Location-Based Encryption and Shielding

ABSTRACT

New techniques for controlling electromagnetic and other forms of radiation are provided. In some aspects of the invention, multiple sources of radiation with characteristics that are projected to constructively interfere at a target are provided. In other aspects, spatially-encoded source signals create a decrypted resulting beam at a planned, target location. In still other aspects, a variable shield which is also a lens is inserted between a radiation target and collateral material.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/612,285, filed Feb. 2, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,381,379which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/371,461, filed Feb. 12, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,948,341, the entirecontents and disclosure of each of which are hereby incorporated byreference herein.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY NOTICE

© 2012-2016 Christopher V. Beckman. The disclosure of this patentdocument contains material which is subject to copyright protection. Thecopyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyoneof the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in thePatent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwisereserves all copyright rights whatsoever. Unless otherwise stated, alltrademarks disclosed in this patent document and associated applicationparts and other distinctive names, emblems, and designs associated withproduct or service descriptions, are subject to trademark rights.Specific notices also accompany the drawings incorporated in thisapplication; the matter subject to this notice, however, is not limitedto those drawings.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to electromagnetic radiation managementsystems, in the medical arts and in communications.

BACKGROUND

The field of radiation therapy (also known as “radiotherapy”), alongwith the sub-field of radiation oncology, seeks the control or treatmentof biological processes through the use of electromagnetic radiation.Radiation therapy has been in use in some form for over a century,shortly following the discovery of X-Rays by Wilhelm Röntgen, inNovember of 1895. Generally speaking, radiation therapy accomplishes itsgoals by targeting living tissues with ionizing radiation, altering thetissue's size, structure, composition and function. For example, incancer therapy, a beam of ionizing radiation may be focused spatially ona malignant tumor, destroying, among other things, the malfunctioningDNA which has caused it to de-differentiate from healthy to malignanttissue, and, thereby, arresting the disease process. Radiation therapyis especially useful in treating “inoperable” tumors, where the size andlocation create unacceptable dangers or where the prognosis forrecurrence despite surgery is especially great, and surgical solutionsare either deemed to be ineffective options, or to present too great arisk of injury or earlier death when weighed against the potentialsuccessful removal of the tumor.

Within the sub-field of radiation oncology, linear accelerator machines(“LINACs”) that generate megavoltage X-rays for deep-tissue penetrationare currently in heavy use. LINACs are a form of “external beam”radiation therapy, in the sense that they generate radiation fromoutside of the treatment area and patient's body, and focus it inwardtoward the tumor. Other forms of radiation therapy include brachytherapyand systemic radioisotopes (where the radiation source is inserted, ortaken by pill or injection, respectively). Like surgical intervention,brachytherapy causes collateral damage to healthy tissue from the traumaof the procedure. Systemic radioisotopes are even more rarely used, dueto difficulties in targeting tumors or other targets, and system-widecollateral damage.

Although LINACs have the advantage of avoiding some of the tissue damageand other risks of invasive surgery and brachytherapy, and can causeless damage than systemic radioisotopes, they also present their owndrawbacks. In most instances, the external beam of radiation must firstpass through healthy, surrounding tissues before reaching the tumor. Asa result, those tissues are also damaged, by the same process thatdamages the tumor tissue. And because a radiation beam can ionize theDNA of any biological cell in its path, LINACs cause mutations inhealthy surrounding tissue, which mutations can lead, among otherthings, to cancer. Thus, ironically, radiation therapy bears aprobability of causing new cancer, in addition to otherwise damagingsurrounding tissues, even if it succeeds at destroying a current tumor.In addition to causing more cancer, a variety of other radiation therapyside effects are seen in collaterally-damaged, otherwise healthyadjacent tissues, including edema, neural and cognitive decline, hairloss, irritation and heart disease.

In tomotherapy and multiple-source fixed LINAC machines, the radiationsource may be applied at a variety of isocentric angles from outside ofthe treatment area—all of which target the tumor—in order to disperseless of the radiation across a greater volume of healthy tissue, suchthat it can withstand the impact of the radiation more easily. Beginningin the 1990s, image-guided and intensity-, spatial approach- and beamshape-modulated radiation therapy techniques have been developed, whichfurther seek to target tumors with greater accuracy. These techniques(hereafter, called “IMRT”) use advanced imaging technology andcomputer-aided dosage plans in conjunction with LINACs and otherionizing radiation sources, to target the diseased tissues and avoidcollateral damage to more important healthy tissue with greateraccuracy. For example, the RapidArc® machine, from Varian MedicalSystems, Inc., employs computer modeling of 360-degree dosage plans (1)modulating the shape of the beam source through its escape aperture (viamultiple collimating “leaves” that are extended or withdraw over theaperture) (2) controlling gantry (beam-emitting source) rotation speed,as well as (3) beam intensity, to deliver a more favorable dosagepattern.

Radiation therapy is often carried out over several sessions in aprocess called “fractionation,” rather than all at once, to givehealthy, non-malignant cells more of an opportunity to heal followingexposure. However, the diseased tumor cells may have more of a potentialto survive treatment as well, through such timing techniques. Inaddition, the added time needed for radiation therapy treatments isdisruptive to the patients' life, as well as expensive andlabor-intensive for both the patient and medical staff.

IMRTs employ a variety of particle and electromagnetic wave radiationbeams. Most forms of radiotherapy have a decaying ionization profile,meaning that the particle or electromagnetic radiation beam's ionizationenergy tends to decrease as the beam penetrates deeper into tissue. Anexception may be some forms of proton or heavier ion therapy, whichexhibit what is known as a “Bragg Curve,” a phenomenon where ionizationbeam energy peaks shortly before the particles come to rest (assumingthey do not fully exit the target or collateral tissue into space).Proton therapy has been rapidly developing in the hope that theseheavier ionization decay profiles will allow for greater localization ofradiation dosage to tumors, while decreasing dosage to healthy tissues.However, collateral damage is a major issue in these therapies due tosignificant dosage to healthy collateral tissues.

It is an objective of the present invention to increase the dosageeffectiveness of external radiation therapy to target tissues, whiledecreasing the damage to collateral tissues.

The field of cryptography, codes have been used for millennia to protectprivate information and communications from exposure to third parties.Typically, codes involve applying a cipher given to trusted parties,such that they, and only they, can decode the encrypted information. Awide variety of approaches, including handshakes to bilaterally buildciphers unique to a given communication, have been developed—forexample, in secure socket layer (SSL), used to maintain communicationsprivacy widely in the Internet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes new techniques for radiotherapy. In oneaspect of the invention, multiple sources of radiation are provided inpreferably the same or a harmonic or otherwise planned frequency and inthe same superposed period and polarization with respect to one another,from the same side of a target, focused on a leading structure in thetarget and are thereby made to interfere with one another at or near andbefore a target location, greatly increasing a vector sum ofelectromagnetic radiation wave amplitudes and ionization energy levelsto the target tissue, or creating resonant, harmonic, higher energy orother critical frequencies concentrated in target-associated matter andstructures.

In additional aspects of the present invention, two or more of suchradiation sources create Encrypted Source Beams that, upon converging,create a Decrypted Result Beam, that can be received in the target area.In further aspects of the present invention, two or more convergingwaves are used to isolate one or more media components, within amulti-layered array of information storage media components, for a reador write event.

In other aspects of the invention, collateral structures and areas areprotected by intentional electromagnetic interference from the opposingside of the target, causing a substantial proportion of standing wavesin the electromagnetic field of the healthy tissue. This protectiveopposing electromagnetic interference may also be used to redirectleaked or Emerging-Slit radiation emerging from between a source andcollimators and a target or related structure. In other aspects of thepresent invention, which may be combined with the previous aspects, byusing tumor-size and healthy tissue-size related pulses, some damagedirectly from the ionizing beam is prevented in healthy tissue. In yetother aspects, the polarization of beams entering a target, and/orhealthy collateral material, are altered relative to one another whilethe beams are sufficiently separated or isolatable by location ofcreation and direction of propagation to allow for a magnetic field toalter their relative polarizations at areas or points of superposition,to bring them into the same polarization and lead to buildinginterference in a target, and thereby protecting collateral tissue priorto entry of the target. A reverse process with another magnetic fieldtargeting the emergent radiation again deactivates their interferenceupon exiting the target. In other aspects of the invention, such amanipulable magnetic field system permits guiding particle therapyaround key collateral tissues and into targets.

Aspects of the present invention are mediated by image-guiding andcomputational and executing hardware, which may implement real-timefeedback, and independent modulation of sources, in response to suchfeedback in order to maximize the impact of radiation on a target, andmaximize the protective effect on collateral structures.

Unless otherwise indicated, the following terms have the specificmeaning described herein:

“Emergent-Slit Radiation”: “Emergent-Slit Radiation,” in addition to itsordinary meaning, means any energy waves that tend to emerge on one sideof an opening or space between neighboring objects, due to energytransfer on the other side of the opening or space.“Treatment Side”: The “Treatment Side” of a system refers to systemcomponents that are designed, configured or intended for use inTreatment, and not used for Protection alone.“Protection Side” (or “Protective Side”): The “Protective Side” of asystem refers to system components that are designed, configured orintended for use in Protection, and not used for Treatment alone.“Fringe Radiation” (or “Leaked Radiation”): “Fringe Radiation” or“Leaked Radiation,” in addition to its ordinary meaning, refers to theunintended or undesired deviation of electromagnetic radiation or otherwave-based energy transferring phenomena from a designated direction orpath set forth for Treatment and includes, but is not limited to, suchdeviation resulting from the tendency of electromagnetic radiation tospread. Generally speaking, because radiation may be in the form of abeam of particles (which are known to contain wave as well as particlecharacteristics when in relative motion to an observer) as well orinstead of typical electromagnetic radiation (such as gamma rays), whena statement in this application refers to radiation generally, it alsoshould be read as a separate alternative statement referring to movingparticle beam radiation, as well as the separate original textualstatement, which still should be read in its ordinary sense, without thealternative statement, and each statement should be read separately fromone another in the context of other surrounding statements.“Encrypted Source Beam”: “Encrypted Source Beam,” in addition to itsordinary meaning, refers to an information-carrying wave (preferably,resulting from the modulation of a carrier wave) that contains only partof the information of a Decrypted Result Beam and that, when combinedwith another Encrypted Source Beam, superposes to form a DecryptedResult Beam at a receiving region, location or area.“Decrypted Result Beam”: “Decrypted Result Beam,” in addition to itsordinary meaning, refers to an information-carrying wave that resultsfrom the superposition of two or more Encrypted Source Beams at areceiving region, location or area.“Treatment” or “Treat”: In addition to its ordinary meaning, “Treatment”means any intended affect of using any wave-based phenomenon, controlledor manipulated by a system or user, on matter or the space, point(s) orregion(s) the matter occupies and/or surrounding the matter, orco-locatable with it (any of which may be called a treatment “target”),including, but not limited to, the phenomenon of ionization of livingtissues by ionizing electromagnetic radiation, or heating matter withradiation, or creating superposed waves of electromagnetic radiation insuch matter, space, points or regions.“Protection” or “Protect”: In addition to its ordinary meaning,“Protection” means any intended affect of using any wave-basedphenomenon, controlled or manipulated by a system or user, on matter orthe space, point(s) or region(s) the matter occupies and/or surroundingthe matter, or co-locatable with it, to attenuate or otherwise reduce aneffect of Treatment, including, but not limited to, creating a standingwave by superposing waves from opposing directions, resulting in no netenergy transfer between two wave sources.“Constructively-related Polarity”: In addition to the phrase's ordinarymeaning, “Constructively-related Polarity” refers to two or more waveswith a polarity such that, when the two or more waves converge,superpose optimally by maintaining or increasing the nature of theirpolarity. For example, two plane-polarized with the same planepolarization have a constructively-related polarity. Two waves with thesame chiral polarity also have a constructively-related polarity.“Beam”: In addition to its ordinary meaning, “Beam” means a wave,particle or group of waves or particles, originating from a commonsource, and which wave, particle or group of waves or particles, may, ormay not travel parallel to or otherwise with a given fixed geometricrelationship to other waves, particles or groups of waves or particlesover time. For example, waves or particles within a beam may converge ordiverge from one another, rather than simply run parallel to oneanother, depending on the focal and dispersion characteristics of thesource.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side-view of an exemplary hardware system, and associatedradiation delivery techniques, according to aspects of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 depicts the same exemplary hardware system as in FIG. 1, furtherdepicting which system components are either in the “Treatment Side” or“Protective Side” of the system.

FIG. 3 depicts the exemplary hardware system of FIG. 1, furtherexplicated to include sensory and feedback hardware and techniques inrelation thereto.

FIG. 4 depicts hardware that may comprise and control a source ofradiation, in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 5 depicts another exemplary hardware system and associatedradiation delivery techniques, with multiple sources such as thosedepicted in FIG. 4, which may be used to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustration of a structural array of acomplex of Protective Side and Treatment Side radiation sources,demonstrating the operation of preferred embodiments of the presentinvention in three-dimensional (“3-D”) space.

FIG. 7 is a graphical depiction of a hardware-incorporating systemdelivering targeted controlled-length pulses of radiation, and thetiming and orientation of such pulses, according to aspects of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 depicts an informational storage system and media implementingaspects of the present invention.

FIG. 9 depicts a more particular and preferred spatial configuration ofan informational storage system and media implementing aspects of thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 is a graphical depiction of an example wave amplitude modulationalphabet, which may be used to create Encrypted Source Beams from acarrier beam and a modulation beam in an encryption/decryption system inaccordance with aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a graphical depiction of an example Encrypted Source Beamwave using the alphabet of FIG. 10, and generated from a carrier beamwave, such as that discussed in relation to FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a graphical depiction of another example of an EncryptedSource Beam wave, generated by a substantially identical carrier beam asused in FIG. 11, and also using the symbolic alphabet of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a graphical depiction of an example of a resulting waveamplitude modulation alphabet, resulting from combination of multiple(in this instance two) Encrypted Source Beam waves.

FIG. 14 is a graphical depiction of an example Decrypted Result Beamwave, that might be generated by the two example Encrypted Source Beamwaves of FIGS. 11 and 12, and implementing the alphabet of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a graphical depiction of a part of an example radio frequencysignal modulation, encryption, transmission, receiver and decryptionhardware system and related techniques, in accordance with aspects ofthe present invention.

FIG. 16 depicts the head and brain of a human patient and anotherexemplary hardware system carrying out aspects of the present inventionrelated to radiation delivery.

FIG. 17 depicts a detailed outline of a structural target within thebrain of human patient, and further depicts a sequence of exemplaryradiation conditions that may be controlled and monitored by a hardwaresystem according to aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 18 also depicts a detailed outline of a structural target withinthe brain of human patient, and depicts another sequence of exemplaryradiation conditions that may be controlled and monitored according toaspects of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of some elements of a control system that maybe used to implement various aspects of the present invention, otherelements of which are depicted in, and discussed in relation to, FIGS.1-18.

FIG. 20 is a partially cutaway frontal view of a human head, a radiationsource and an implantable fluorescent focal device, for use in radiationtherapy in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an exemplary endoscopic radiation focaland shielding instrument, in accordance with aspects of the presentinvention.

FIG. 22 is a perspective drawing depicting a new radiotherapy machinewith multiple, simultaneously radiation sources.

FIG. 23 depicts a series of radiation beam pattern pairs emanating fromsources discussed in FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a perspective drawing, depicting aspects of the inventionapplied in a handheld wireless communications device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of aspects of the presentinvention related to the delivery of enhanced electromagnetic radiationto a target, such as a tumor embedded in the healthy tissue of a medicalpatient. The location of the exemplary target, in FIG. 1, is shown by across-sectional side view through a central plane, as a sphericalstructure, target 101. In the upper-left corner, by the same view, anoriginating source 103, of electromagnetic radiation, is pictured. Thissource may take a variety of shapes, forms and configurations which maybe suitable for creating, defining and releasing a source ofelectromagnetic or particle radiation, such as those used in LINACmachines. A sine wave emanating from the lower right side of originatingsource 103 depicts an initial radiation emission 105. Initial radiationemission 105 may be of any form of radiation with wave characteristics,but, preferably is tissue-penetrating and ionizing radiation, such asX-rays or gamma rays, in a Treatment-appropriate intensity and duration.Preferably, emission 105 is of a fixed frequency and polarity (and, evenmore preferably, of a chiral, circular polarization), which may becaused either by the actuating mechanism (e.g., frequency determiningbombardment of a foil with particles) of the emitting appliance and/or apolarizing medium and/or filter (not pictured). Preferably, thefrequency, polarity and intensity of the emission may be manipulated bythe user and/or system with additional hardware and, optionally,software (not pictured). Radiation emission 105 propagates toward thelower-right corner of the figure at a 45-degree angle and next enters abeam splitter 107. After entering beam splitter 107, substantiallyone-half of radiation emission 105 is reflected (reflected emission 109)at a 45-degree angle, to the lower-left corner of the figure, while theother substantially one-half of the radiation (pass-through emission111) carries directly through the beam splitter, in the originaldirection of propagation of beam 105. Pass-through emission 111 nextpasses through an optional modulator 113, which, preferably with a userinterface and/or computational system (not pictured), permits thealteration of the intensity, phase, frequency and/or polarization ofpass-through emission 111. At the same time, reflected emission 109 nextenters modulator/blocker 115. As with modulator 113, modulator/blocker115 permits the alteration of the intensity, phase, frequency orpolarization of its emergent radiation stream 117. However, it shouldalso be noted that the phase of reflected emission 109 may be varied bya choice of beam splitter as well. For example, if a higher refractiveindex material on the right-hand side of beam splitter 107 is used,reflected emission 109 will automatically have a phase 180 degreesopposing the initial radiation emission 105. Such phase reversal isdesired in aspects of the present invention, for reasons which will beexplained, below.

Emergent radiation beams 117 and 119 next enter beam splitters 121 and123, respectively, yielding emergent beams 125, 127, 129 and 131. Itshould be noted that, in another embodiment, beams 125 through 131 couldthemselves enter additional modulators, actuated by a control system.However, preferably, they are not modulated at this point in the streamof events. Potentially-created emergent beam 133 preferably is notcreated by the system but is depicted to illustrate the 180-degreereverse phase that might emerge if a different coupling of refractivematerials is used in beam splitter 121, with different relativerefractive indices. Next, emergent beams 125 through 131 reflect againstmirrors 135 through 141, creating emergent beams 143 through 149.

At this point, it is useful to refer to emergent beams 143 and 145 asbeing within a class of system components termed the “Treatment Side” ofthe system. The Treatment Side serves to deliver ionizing or otherwisetarget-affecting radiation to a target. Meanwhile, emergent beams 147and 149 may be described as being within the “Protective Side” of thesystem. The Protective Side serves to moderate or reduce the net forceor affect of radiation emerging from the Treatment Side in areas wheresuch moderation or “Protection” is desired. The Treatment Side andProtective Side components are described further in FIG. 2. In theinstance depicted in FIG. 1, it may be assumed to be desired to affecttarget 101 with ionizing radiation. Thus, beams 143 and 145 convergeupon the target and, preferably and as will be explained further, below,with a greater amount of their radiation beams focused on and convergingon the leading portions (facing the beams) than on the distal portionsof the target. However, beams 147 and 149 (the latter of which is onlypartially pictured, for 2-D illustration purposes) pass through a seriesof mirrors, including pictured mirrors 150 through 153, resulting in anemergent beam 159 hitting a diffusing media and complementary targetclone 161 and 163. The size, angles, orientation and refractive indicesof the diffusing media and complementary target 161 and 163 are selectedto match or approximate those of the actual target 101 and collateralmaterial 165, such that any emerging radiation 167 is matched byemerging radiation from an opposing angle 169, which is, owing to thedistances and angles of components chosen by the system and/or user,matched in phase with emerging radiation 167. As a result, a portion ofemerging radiation 167 is superposed through interference with emergingradiation 169, creating standing waves, which do not transfer ionizingenergy.

Turning again to radiation waves in beams 143 and 145, converging on theleading volume of target 101, the system has caused the radiation wavein beam 143 to be in-phase, identically polarized and to have the samefrequency and, preferably, the same energy and amplitude. Therefore, asthe beams converge, they superpose and interfere—substantiallyincreasing in power, Kerma and Joules per kilogram of Treated matter inthe areas of convergence and superposition. In general, assuming thatthe two converging radiation beams are of identical energy, they willvector sum as they converge, according to the formula 2R cos Ø, in whichR is a measure of the energy level or strength of each of the addingsource beams, shown as vectors 171 and 173, and Ø is the angle betweeneach of the source beams and the resulting beam vector 175, which angleØ is shown as 177 in FIG. 1. Where, as in the example angles shown inFIG. 1, the angle Ø is 45 degrees, the resulting vector sum 175 and beam179 is therefore approximately 71% of the strength of the scalar sum ofthe two beams, as a result of the vector sum.

The angle Ø may be made more acute or oblique, and, generally, will havegreater definition between a Treatment target and collateral tissue inthe latter instance, but have a greater maximum power differential inthe former instance. It should be noted that the particular types ofradiation reflecting, modulating, focusing and diffusing devicespictured in FIG. 1 are illustrative, but not exhaustive. The particularangles, distances of the radiation propagations, beam splitters, mirrorsand other optical devices may be of any suitable choice for reflecting,splitting, delaying or otherwise altering the directions, distances andother aspects of electromagnetic radiation, or otherwise carrying outaspects of the invention. For example, a dual-prism square beam splitterneed not be the type of beam splitter used, and the emergent collateralradiation may be accomplished to some degree with a diffusing lens,rather than a complementary opening. Radiation may be amplified at anypoint or in any area, for example, by optical amplification in a medium(not pictured) or the amounts directed to each beam may be attenuatedwith amplification of a source beam (or source beams), to correct oroptimize the distribution of radiation and allow for constructive anddestructive interference of the correct vectors to optimize Protectionand Treatment according to aspects of the present invention.Furthermore, it should be understood that many other methods may be usedto generate complementary, inverse waves such as those created by thesystem depicted in FIG. 1, and the present invention is in no waylimited to the exact techniques explained with respect to FIG. 1. Forexample, multiple emitters may be used and separately controlled andmodulated through feedback to yield such interference, rather thansplitting an originating beam. However, splitting an originating beammay have some advantages, as well as drawbacks, over other approaches tocarry out aspects of the present invention. It is also possible todrive, create, simulate or amplify attenuating Protective radiation (oranti-radiation), for example, by magnetic or electromagneticamplification or attenuation transmitted or pulsed from the same side asthe Treatment beam, and/or from the opposing side, (or vice versa, withrespect to the Protection Side), rendering it out-of-phase, causing moreattenuated, and otherwise different ionization or other radiationeffects in desired areas of Protection coverage.

As alluded to above, FIG. 2 aids in explaining which of the componentsof the exemplary system depicted in FIG. 1 are within the Treatment Sideor Protective Side of the system. All components within the boxencompassing Treatment Side components—box 201—can be thought of as apart of the Treatment Side of the system. All components within the boxencompassing Protective Side components—box 203—can be thought of as apart of the Protective Side of the system. Components contributing, butnot entirely within either the Protective Side or Treatment Side of thesystem, as shown in FIG. 2, include the originating source, shown as 207in FIG. 2, and first beam splitter in the beam sequence, shown as 205,which may be thought of as present in both system sides.

FIG. 3 depicts the same system discussed in FIGS. 1 and 2, withadditional control hardware and techniques depicted. A control system381 appears in the upper-right corner of the figure, and may includeinput 383 and output 385 devices and their connectors and circuitry,which allow the control system to give and receive signals, instructionsand information to and from sensors 387 and 389. Sensor 387 is locatedwithin the path of the stream of resulting vector beam 379, and maysense, among other characteristics, the strength, period, phase,frequency, and amplitude or energy of ambient and/or directionalradiation. Sensor 387 passes a signal with any or all of that sensoryinformation by transmission wires/bus 391. Of course, transmission maybe by any suitable means, such as RF signal circuitry and hardware, aswell as the pictured hard wiring, but hard wiring is preferred in orderto avoid unintentional interference with other aspects of the invention.Sensor 389 also permits the system to sense radiation and any of itssensible characteristics, but, in this instance, is located near theconvergence of the leaked Emergent-Slit Radiation 367 and Protectiveradiation 369. Based on information received by the system, the systemmay modulate and tune radiation on both the Treatment Side and theProtective Side of the hardware system with output signals orinstructions carried on leads 393 and 395, to modulator 313 andmodulator/blocker 315. For example, if sensor 389 detects that theProtective radiation 369 is not interfering properly or completelyenough, for example, because the resulting wave form is not in awell-defined single standing wave phase, the system may, for example,adjust the energy level, amplitude, phase or polarization of sourceradiation beam 317, using modulator 315, until the leaked radiation andProtective radiation are sensed to properly interfere more completely.Additional sensors (not pictured), including sensors for beams 343 and345, might also pass characteristics information regarding any beam,including, but not limited to, the individual source beams contributingto resulting vector beam 379, and allow the system to tune thosecharacteristics using modulators of each of those streams (not pictured)individually. Control system 381 may also be used to control spatialconfiguration actuators or servos for any system component, including,but not limited to, 3-dimensional pivot and scissoring device 397, whichmay re-orient mirrors 351 and 353 in space—in part, by actuatingmotorized hinge 354. The distance and orientation of mirrors 351 and353, and any other individual device or hardware item in the system ofFIG. 3 may be further altered with respect to the target 301 andadditional system hardware, such as mirror 350, via telescoping androtating actuators or servos and/or by mounting other variablecomponent-connecting hardware—for example, a telescoping and rotatingservo and hardware between mirror array 351/353 and mirror 350, or anadjustable fixative bracket between mirror 353 and target and collateralclone 363 and 361. In this way, the control system may adjust hardwareto fit targets of varying size and location efficiently andconveniently, and may also adjust the 3-D orientation of hardware tomaximize the effectiveness and efficiency of both the Treatment Side andProtective Side of the system, for example, to tune source beams 343,345 and 359 in light of refraction effects or live informationattributed to or resulting from the target 301 and collateral Protectedmaterial 365. For example, MRI sensory and imaging information may betaken of the target 301 and collateral Protected material 365 on a livebasis through MRI hardware (not pictured) and sent to the control systemvia leads (not pictured) to input 385. Based on radiation refractiveproperty models held in, or accessible to, control system 381, arefractive profile for the target 301 and collateral Protected material365 may be built, and actual and anticipated radiation from any pointaround or within the target 301 and collateral Protected material 365may be compared to data projected by those models. For example, a modelsuch as the MIRD-5 phantom computational body model developed by the OakRidge National Laboratory, may be used as a platform and modified by thesystem, including organ surface refraction, fluorescence and scatteringeffects. In the event of substantial, sustained deviation fromanticipated or projected and actual radiation measurements, adjustmentsto the refraction models and actuated or controlled system hardware maybe made that explain and/or compensate for the deviation. In addition,hardware 3-D orientations and beam characteristics may be adjusted tofurther compensate for such unexpected, newly learned refractive profilecharacteristics, thereby optimizing system performance. In addition, thesystem may exploit natural lensing effects that take place in collateraltissue, to allow diffuse radiation across broader, lensing collateralmaterial to focus radiation on a target volume.

Additional Treatment and Protective sources, and/or such sources ofgreater complexity, with, for example, more radiation source beamorigination points, may be introduced into the system to address morecomplex refraction phenomena profiled than that pictured in FIGS. 1through 3, and to address target, collateral material or other subject-or media-related reflection, blocking and refraction effects.

A control system, which may supplement or replace 381, including some ofits user interface options, is described in greater detail in FIG. 19.

To reduce loss of radiation from conversion of a multi-directionalsource to a source beam, anamorphic mirror and/or lensing, orholographic techniques, may alternatively be used to recreate a reversedimage of the source, or part thereof, in the target volume, as analternative to the mirror array described in FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 4 depicts beam collimating, source orientation and other structuraland controlling hardware which may comprise or control radiation sourcesin accordance with aspects of the present invention. Unlike with FIGS.1-3, the common origination and splitting and reflection of a sourcebeam for multiple sources is not pictured. However, it should beunderstood that any source pictured in FIG. 4, and in other relatedfigures including a radiation source, may be commonly derived from sucha master source, as described in FIGS. 1-3. Beginning with source 400,radiation is initially emitted in several directions, exemplified by raypaths 403. Those ray paths hit a substantially parabolic mirror orreflector/absorber 405. Because the source radiation origination point401 is located at the focus point of the parabolic shape of 405, thisleads reflected efferent radiation rays 407 to approach lens element 409in substantially parallel pathways. However, owing to the naturalincoherence and expansion of the plane waves of electromagneticradiation and otherwise errant particle radiation, collimators, such asmulti-leaf collimators 411, may be used to shape and restrict the totalbeam of radiation that will enter lens element 409 and, ultimately, exitthe hardware after being focused and/or diffused by lens element 409.Collimators 411, and lens element 409, may be real-time 3-Dconformational, tailoring the beam's shape according to MRI or otherimaging and sensory feedback and refraction models, as further explainedwith respect to other aspects of the present invention.

Rather than a conventional lens, lens element 409 may be replaced by anew form of lens element better equipped to handle the wear and tear offocusing higher-energy radiation. For example, a lens element withreplaceable lens-shaped compartment-bounding elements, and aninterstitial refractive and/or cooling fluid, which may circulate in andout of an external chamber(s), such as a bladder or tank, and leadchannels, via a pump, to avoid overheating and breakdown, may be added.In addition, the lens-shaped compartment bounding elements may boundjust the radiation entry and exit sides of the lens element, and mayslide, while still sealing the interstitial fluid from leakage, along atleast one side-walling element, which need not be transparent ortranslucent. As the lens-shaped compartment-bounding elements expand orcontract together, they may change their shape to have more or lessacute gradations, and different focal effects, by a graduated elasticaspect along their expanse, radiating from their center, and the centralchamber may naturally draw in more or less fluid, as a vacuum orpositive pressure is built, above the pressure naturally created by thecirculation system. The focus may also be changed byelectrically-actuated or magnetically-actuated control points on thelens-shaped elements (or magnetically-actuated and orienting elements inthe fluid, which change their refractive properties in differentmagnetically-actuated orientations in space), and may be so numerous asto allow effectively unlimited conformational changes in the lens shape.

As explained with reference to FIG. 19, below, a control system mayinstantaneously test 3-D orientation of source or hardware movements orfocal lengths and areas and radiation characteristic changes in multipleways, evaluate improvement or deterioration of Treatment and Protectiveradiation interference and radiation delivery, such as by testinstances, and implement changes according to that feedback. Thereafter,the system may implement further tuning based on additionalinstantaneous testing and comparison to the results of the previousorientation and beam characteristics to assess improvement. If nooverall improvement has been made, the system may revert to the previousorientation and beam characteristics. Among other things, suchmodulation and focusing of the radiation source may better addresstarget and collateral matter movement, including movements betweentarget and collateral matter. Lens element 409 may either focus ordiffuse efferent radiation, depending upon the needs of the system. Lenselement 409 may be a single lens, or a complex of lenses and/orparabolic mirror 405 may itself not be perfectly parabolic, with anintegrated or derived angle deformation adjustment that diffuses and/orfocuses efferent radiation relatively uniformly, or in conformity with adesired Treatment area dosage distribution. For example, the functionfor the parabola may be modified to result in a unit-by-unit adjustment(e.g., subtract 0.01 millimeters from the x-axis for each functionoutput per millimeter along the y-axis, to cause uniform diffusion orfocusing). Such a function might thereby be described asf(y)=(x−0.01y)², for example. Such a pseudo-parabolic mirror couldobviate the lens element 409, which may be omitted. After passingthrough lens element 409, the efferent radiation may enter a polarizingand/or modulating filter or filter blocker 413. Element 413 may permitthe source to restrict radiation to one phase, one polarity and onefrequency and/or intensity, or a range or ranges thereof, among othercharacteristics, or a stream, succession or grouping of instances ofsuch characteristics, as may be needed by the system to optimizeperformance due to interference with other sources and the refractionblocking and reflection characteristics of the target, medium andcollateral material of a subject and Protective Radiation, if any.Appropriate radiation emission, or patterns thereof, then exit thesource at port 415. To reduce the risk of leaking radiation, blockingelement 417, variably attached (e.g., by a detachable and conformableball-and-socket joint 419) to the source housing 421, may be used, whichis preferably made of a material or structure or force field thatsubstantially absorbs stray or Fringe Radiation from the source,out-of-line with an intended beam path. Element 417 is preferably atelescoping member comprising matter of high radiation absorptiveness,such as lead, such that different distances between sources, targets,collateral material and media may be physically accommodated. InTreatment configurations with multiple sources, the positioning ofblocking members, such as that illustrated as 423 attached to a pairedsource, 425. Such accommodating configurations allow for gaplessinterlocking of the blocking elements, even if telescoped, to prevent orlimit stray or unintended peripheral radiation. A literal lockingmechanism, such as flexible unisex or multi- or omni-valent latching orother reversible physical binding on every surface of every blocker,which may close any gap between neighboring blocking elements onmultiple sources, is preferred.

FIG. 5 depicts another exemplary hardware system and associatedradiation delivery system and techniques, with multiple sources such asthose depicted in FIGS. 1-4, which may be used to carry out aspects ofthe present invention. Treatment-side sources 501 and 503 emit radiationgenerally from the left-hand side of the figure toward the right-handside and, more specifically, in the direction indicated by beam lines505 through 515. More particularly, the beam of radiation emitted fromsource 501 is directed toward the lower-right corner of the figure whilethe beam of radiation emitted from source 503 is directed toward theupper-right corner of the figure. By techniques and mechanisms discussedelsewhere in this application, as above, in connection with FIG. 4, theradiation from sources 501 and 503 is preferably in the same phase, ofthe same or a complementarily superposing polarity (and even morepreferably, of a matching chiral pair of polarizations), and the samefrequency and intensity, or any one of those characteristics, but,preferably, each of those characteristics. Thus, as discussed earlier inthis application, as the cross-sections of the beams of radiation fromsources 501 and 503 converge, near or about the volume of a target mass517, the radiation vectors sum to resultant superposed beam of greatermagnitude and/or a greater or otherwise desired superposition-resultingfrequency, or other desired superposition combination, depending on theangle separating the direction of the two sources 501 and 503, and theirbeams, whose direction are shown by rays 505 through 509 and 511 through515, respectively, and also depending on the magnitude of thoseTreatment-Side beams. Also by mechanisms and techniques describedelsewhere in this application, complementary Protective-Side radiationsources 521 and 523 introduce superposing radiation (preferably of thesame frequency, intensity and of appropriate polarity such that itinterferes inversely with radiation emanating from Treatment-Sidesources (propagating in an at least partially opposing direction in amatching amount in that direction), such as plane wave radiationexpanding beyond directional rays 505 through 515). In this way, sources521 and 523 have the net effect of compressing and trimming the effectof fringe or “leaked” radiation expanding beyond the desired Treatmentand/or communication target 517, by greatly reducing the transfer ofenergy by the Treatment-Side sources to collateral material 519.Accordingly, sources 521 and 523 may be thought of as Protective-Sidecomponents and, more specifically, as Protecting collateral materialfrom fringe radiation on the outer edges of the sources. It should benoted that, in this configuration, Protective outer edge radiationsources 521 and 523 are powered at lower level than their pairedTreatment sources 501 and 503, respectively. More preferably, Protectivesources 521 and 523 are outfitted with partially-absorptive filters (notpictured) that reduce the intensity and/or density of the interferingProtective radiation beam if one were to assess the resulting beam/fieldof Protective radiation moving from directional rays at the edge of theProtective beam nearest the Treatment beam and moving one's assessmenttoward the outer edge of those directional rays, by, for example, anassessment sensor passed approximately through a plan bisecting such abeam, the direction of such an assessment path being that shown by arrow525. The exact power levels and attrition of the beams laterally orvertically in any rotation orientation of the source, and across anylocalized plane or volume, may be modulated by an actuated filter andcontrol system (not pictured), and may be adjusted in real time based onsensory feedback concerning the resulting radiation field. For example,if the fringe radiation and Protective radiation are not harmonic, notinterfering, not producing standing waves, or are determined to betransferring ionizing radiation that may be further reduced bymodulation of either the source radiation or the Protective radiation,the control system may so modulate either the source radiation or theProtective radiation, and with each source, independently, to optimizeTreatment and/or Protection given the refraction of collateral materialand media, and/or real-time deviation from refractive profilesmaintained and adjusted, in the control system. As mentioned previouslywith respect to other embodiments, instantaneous or other testing, atsubstantially lower dosages than the majority of the Treatment time, maybe used to model and alter 3-D refraction and blocking profiles andmodels for the target and collateral material.

As mentioned previously, the radiation refraction and blocking profilesof targets, collateral material and other media can reduce theeffectiveness of paired Treatment sources and Protective sources, whichserve to concentrate ionizing radiation, or other, for example, combinedsignal-carrying radiation, in desired areas. In addition to modifyingthe intensity and other radiation characteristics emanating fromsources, the control system may dictate additional or different raypaths for either the Treatment or Protective sources (and any one orgroup thereof) by efferent radiation dynamic actuated lenses, filtersand/or modifying the number, placement and angle of Protective andTreatment sources to improve the distribution of ionizing and protectiveradiation, based on refractive/reflective models and live sensoryfeedback.

In any event, preferably, additional Protective Side sources are alsoused, to also address leaked or fringe radiation on the inner area,between the sides of Protective sources closest to one another. Suchadditional Protective sources are shown as sources 527, 529, 531 and 533which are aimed to Protect collateral material and media from sourcefringe radiation from that inner area and, preferably, are aimed towardor through the central plane evenly bisecting laterally theTreatment-Side sources and target volume, but at an angle permitting thegraduated distribution of Protective radiation to better match fringeradiation with an optimal avoidance of unintentional protectiveradiation in the target volume. Generally speaking, Protective beampaths aimed tangentially to target structures, at angles more obliquethan 90 degrees with respect to the central source and target bisectingplane will be more optimized and require less Protective source power.Unlike Protective beams 521 and 523, sources 527 through 533 arepreferably mounted by hardware (not shown) above and below the centralplane bisecting the originating sources 501 and 503 and the Treatmenttarget 517, such that a lower amount of Protective radiation passesthrough the target. Because Protective sources 527-529 are above andbelow that central plane, their beam paths may cross over and under thetarget, thereby partially Protecting fringe radiation in those areas aswell, which Protective beams 521 and 523 cannot do as effectively.

It should be noted that, although it is preferred that Treatment Sidesources emit electromagnetic radiation or other energy-transmittingwaves of the same polarity, period and frequency, it may be preferable,in some embodiments, to use a different or more random polarity, periodor frequency. For example, to create a superposed frequency that isgreater (which may be advantageous for creating a different, increasedelectromagnetic energy level, waves of a different period, and evendifferent frequencies, may be used. Oscillating, different frequencies,brought together, may also create patterns of increased energy, orenergy spikes, that are advantageous, to destroy cells that move with acyclical biological process (e.g., breathing, heartbeat).

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustration of a device comprised of astructural array of multiple Protective Side and Treatment Side sources,demonstrating the operation of preferred embodiments of the presentinvention in 3-D space. Device 601 is depicted generally as a ringstructure, with Treatment sources 603 and 605 generally facing a viewerof the figure, as well as the inside of the ring structure on theopposing side, preferably, focusing their efferent radiation on a targettoward the center of the ring structure (e.g., a cancerous tumor targetwithin a patient laying on a bed inserted into the ring structure.).Sources 607 and 611 emit Protective radiation, according to aspects ofthe present invention described above, from the outer edges of beampaths from sources 603 and 605 and outward from the center of the ring,thereby reducing fringe radiation, expanding beyond the desired beampaths for sources 603 and 605. Radiation-diffusing and edged surfacecoating 613 may line the inner surface of the ring structure, absorbingand/or reflecting away radiation emanating from sources that has alreadypassed through the target volume of the ring structure and hit the innersurface of the ring structure, and preventing the majority of thatradiation from re-entering the collateral area surrounding a target.Although not pictured, such surface coating may cover any otherstructure that may create undesired reflections. In addition todiffusing edges, surface coating 613 may also have downward-facingfacets, to further absorb and reflect radiation reflecting on lower,upward-facing facets of the coating.

The lenses of all sources shown in FIG. 6 are not simple spherical orparabolic shapes. Rather, they illustrate a more desirablemultifunctional and/or 3-D conformational blend of shapes, leading toimproved shaped radiation beams. For example, Protective source 609extends more greatly above and below the plane bisecting ring structure601 into two equal, uniformly-shaped rings than other sources, and asits structure reaches inward both above and below that plane, the widthof the source increases. Thus, source 609 is capable of generating agreater density of radiation, from a greater distribution of angles andyet at angles that still conform with the edges of the beam paths fromsources 603 and 605, despite the change in distance. Ray paths fromsource 609 preferably converge just beyond (viewing from the perspectiveof the drawing) the convergence of ray paths from the Treatment sources,thereby attenuating Fringe Radiation where it is greatest.Alternatively, the protective beam paths of source 609 may face outwardfrom the center of the source head, by a shape or other mechanism aimingits edges along the edges of ionizing source radiation, which, itself,preferably converges on the leading volumetric features of the target.Controllable, graduated modulators or filters may adjust radiationemanating from different regions of sources. For example, source 609 mayadjust phase, period, frequency, intensity, amplitude and othercharacteristics to maximize Protective interference across the beamprofile, as it crosses leaked Fringe radiation from the Treatmentsources. Other sources, by contrast, may capitalize on additionallateral space, along the ring structure, thereby becoming more ovoid, ora blend with another curved or graduated structure and the primarybeam-shaping structure (e.g., parabola or decaying parabola, asdiscussed with respect to FIG. 4), allowing for a greater number ofconvergent angles, more diffused across collateral structure and mediaspace.

In another embodiment, ring structure 601 may be split into two or morecomplementary beam structures, rather than one (such as the ringstructure pictured), with overlapping regions coated, such as withcoating 613. In such an embodiment, the ray paths may be adjustable toaccommodate differing distances between the sources, as they are broughtcloser or further apart—for example, by flexible, uniform bending of themultiple, complementary semi-ring structures, of the sources alone or byactuation of lens or reflector controls by a control system, such as thecontrol system discussed in connection with FIG. 19. All of the samecontrol system and other features and aspects discussed with respect tosystems depicted in FIGS. 1-5 are also possible with respect to FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a graphical depiction of radiation sources delivering targetedcontrolled-length pulses of radiation, according to aspects of thepresent invention. Sources 703 and 705 are each facing, and placed onopposing sides of, a radiation Treatment target volume 707, and itscollateral volume 711. Two exemplary pulses of radiation, each aproduced increased concentration of radiation of a particular width,once emitted, are depicted, if they have yet been created by a source,at instances of time indicated by point-in-time-associated time/locationindicators 715, 717, 719, 721 and 723—with notations T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄, andT₅, respectively—which are placed directly below depictions of thelocation of Pulse 701 or 702, or both Pulse 701 and 702, at theinstances of time indicated. Source 703, on the right-hand side of thefigure, produces the first of these two pulses, which is thereforereferred to as Pulse 701. Pulse 702 is emitted at a later time thanpulse 701, by system source 705, depicted on the left-hand side of thefigure. The widths of Pulse 701 and Pulse 702 are shown as identical,and approximately matching the diameter of the target volume and thewidth of the collateral material through which it may pass, on eitherside of the target. In practice, these widths will not and need notperfectly match to carry out aspects of the present invention, andwidths of the pulses need not exactly match the width of the target orcollateral material through which they penetrate. For example, if thewidth of the collateral material is prioritized and/or keyed by thesystem, Protection area path-width directed pulses may be used such thatthe opposing beams overlap more completely at an instant of time in thecollateral material area 713, while ensuring that no Protection orsubstantially no Protection occurs in the target area. Following theoverlap/superposition period of time, in any approach, some ionizingradiation, albeit a lesser amount, will occur in the collateralProtection area 713, while the two pulses are not in the instant ofperfectly matched overlap. Similarly, and preferably, a target-widthinfluenced and/or keyed length and timed pulse may be used by at leastone of the sources, or from both sources. Again, the pulses would betimed to intersect before or after the target, and, preferably, theinstances of overlap for different pulse pairs would be at different,distributed points in the collateral Protection area, to more evenlydistribute their Protection through that mass. Preferably, adistributable common denominator or factor of the target/radiationintersection path and its associated collateral matter intersection pathis used and, more preferably, a small enough denominator or factor toallow even distribution of Protective superposition over a greatervolume of collateral material. Protection can happen on both sides ofthe target mass or volume 707. After the first pulse pair, it ispreferred that a new pulse follows, in the same relative timing asbetween the first pulse pair, and such that protective superpositionagain occurs on the opposite side of the target, and so on foradditional pulses, from alternating sides, in similar timing, butpreferably adjusted to distribute protection evenly across thecollateral protection areas.

It should be noted that point-in-time-associated time/locationindicators 715, 717, 719, 721 and 723—with notations T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄, andT₅—are relatively evenly spaced apart in time, but are preferably inincrements necessary to achieve the relative locations indicated anddiscussed, given that the distances involved with a particular targetmass and collateral area needing Protection. Preferably, a refractionmodel is also used by the system, allowing for correct timing andangles, which model may be tuned by the system according to livefeedback (e.g., infra-red sensory data for indicating whether heatingassociated with ionizing energy is present) indicating whetherProtective superposition is failing or not optimal.

FIG. 8 is a side-view of aspects comprised in an informational storagesystem and media implementing aspects of the present invention.Directable radiation sources 801 and 803 may direct beams of radiationalong any of paired vector paths 805, 807, 809 or 811 (source 801 beingcapable of directing beams along the half of the paired vectorsprojecting from the upper left-hand side toward the lower right-handside, and source 803 capable of directing beams along the half of thepaired vectors projecting from the upper-right hand side toward thelower-left hand side of the figure). A multi-component readable and/orwritable media 815 lies within the paired vector paths 805-811.Preferably, the paired vector paths 805-811 converge at or about theleading volume or features of media components, 817-821, currently beingwritten or read by the system. Media components neighboring 817-821,which are not currently being written or read, are depicted with dashedlines, signifying their inactive state, because they are not the mainfocus of the figure. As discussed previously in this application,aspects of the present invention allow the converging pairs of radiationbeams to vector sum and/or superpose with one another, with a net vectorand/or changed frequency or other resulting characteristic centeredalong a resulting vector line 822, and in a direction toward the bottomof the figure. However, the source vectors which are, by themselves,weaker than their resulting vector, alone will pass through certain ofthe neighboring media components. As a result, a resulting vector may besufficient to impart a greater effect, such as imparting a charge orcharge differential, as in a changed magnetic condition or state, orcausing a chemical reaction or photon amplitude-dependent effects in themedia component through which it first passes, while being insufficientto impart the same effect on neighboring components. Such effects may berelatively transient, permanent, and/or readable by the system,depending on the media components selected. Wide enough source angles,such as those shown for components 817 and 819, along with a reflectiveor semi-reflective surface just above the convergence points of thesumming vectors, may permit components within the path of the resultingvector, which are further downstream than the component targeted by avector pair, to avoid reaching a critical affected energy as well.However, it is also possible, and with certain advantages such as costof manufacturing, to optimize the array of media component sizes andreactivity (e.g., chargeable cells) and/or beam targeting angles andstrengths, such that the naturally increasing vector sum percentage,balanced by the natural spreading and scattering of radiation the beamused, causes the read or write reaction to occur in the cell in whichthe beams converge, but not in any neighboring cell. Even morepreferably, however, the reaction and charge differential leading to aread or write event within a media component is based at least partiallyon a local differential with neighboring media components. In otherwords, only when the resulting vector beam energy is both above athreshold and significantly greater than its neighbors, will the read orwrite event occur in that media component. This arrangement can beachieved, among other ways, by a writing event triggered by a chargediffusion (efflux) gate.

To illustrate the nature of the naturally increasing vector percentagein the instance of in-phase amplitude superposition, mentionedimmediately above, as pictured, vectors 805 converge with an angle,shown as ø₁ (823), of 63.43 degrees, which results in a vector sum (ofits resulting superposed beam) that is 89.46 percent of either of thetwo even source vectors at the point of convergence. Assuming that theneighboring media components are tuned to the same combined wavecritical reaction energy (or activation energy) for a read/write event,just below (but significantly below) the energy level of each sourcevector alone, the individual source vectors generally would need to loseslightly more than 10.54 percent of their passage across the uppercorners of media component 817, to avoid an inadvertent read or writeevent in the neighboring components, assuming that no additionalreflecting, refracting or absorbing features are also included alongsuch stray vector paths from neighboring component activation, whichadditional features may be desirable to omit for cost reasons. Anappropriate media and beam type, causing sufficient radiation scatteringand absorption, could be chosen for that purpose. Alternatively, or inaddition, a central reacting element, such as an antenna located in thecenter of a cellular media component, could be missed by the majority ora critical amount of such pass-through source vectors in the neighboringmedia components. Also alternatively, the media component cells could beother than square-shaped, or otherwise have facets that aid inreflecting or scattering vectors that do not proceed in the direction ofthe resulting combination centered on the line of the targeted mediacomponent's column, 822. In any event, however, the resulting vectoritself must decrease in force as it proceeds to the next media componentbelow the target media component, or the next media component (or, rowthereof) below the target media component must be tuned to a higherreaction energy, to avoid an inadvertent read/write event. In thislatter instance, the greater percentage sum of resulting vectors asconvergence events proceed downward, for deeper read or write events,naturally aids in utilizing such higher reaction energies. But if thesystem utilizes the natural attrition of a radiation beam fromscattering alone, a critical distance may be required from the sourcesto the first useable media row, such that the decrease in beam strengthdue to scattering and absorption may be balanced by the increasingresulting vector strength percentage allows a reaction that is within arange of source vectors that do not inadvertently cause a read or writeevent in cells other than the targeted cell. For example, if squaremedia component cells are used, the distances shown for media componentcells 819, 820 and 821 may be sufficient relative to the sourceseparation, because the resulting summed vectors of the same strengthbeam would be 141.4 percent of the source beams at convergence for thebeams converging at ø₂, 166.4 percent for the beams converging at ø₃(or, 17.58 percent more vector sum percentage) and 178.9 percent for thebeams converging at ø₄ (or, 7.512 percent more vector sum percentageover the sum at ø₃). Meanwhile, the source beam lengths (their distancestraveled) increase 27.4 percent and 24.1 percent over the same twointervals, as determined by Pythagorean theorem. While these latterintervals, in source beam length, are greater, generally, thesemi-exponential attrition due to beam scattering and absorption may beused to exaggerate or decrease the effect of those intervals. Using abeam and media type with a reverse square attrition due to distance, forexample, the first interval results in a 38.4 percent decrease and thesecond interval results in a 35 percent decrease in beam strength due toscattering/absorption. To compensate for this difference, deeper tiersof levels of the media can be made more sensitive in their reactionenergy or activation energy, such that they are activated despite thegreater attrition to vector sum resultant vector ratio at those tiers.Alternatively, a medium and source beam with a more favorableattrition-with-distance profile may be chosen, than the example justdiscussed, which depletes with the inverse square of the distance fromthe source. As another approach, localized and/or periodic optical orother amplification may be used at points along the beam paths, to bringthe attrition and vector summing into balance for activating individualcells. As another option, media component or cell length may increase astiers/rows deepen (away from the source), with or without cell sizefanning out and becoming wider horizontally, which is anotheralternative configuration, to allow a greater build-up of net affectingcharge, or other reaction, in deeper cells. This aspect is demonstrated,among others, in more detail, in FIG. 9, below.

Depending on the nature of the media selected and the characteristics ofits comprised elements, such as their refractive index and radiationscattering and absorption characteristics, optimized media componentssizes and shapes may be selected that allow the activation of the mediacomponent or components targeted by converging wave beams, withoutinadvertently activating neighboring media components.

It should be noted that either the media or the sources may rotatearound a central axis, or, to avoid moving parts, both may remainstationary while the strengths of sources vary to create the requisitevector sum at any media component targeted by vector convergence.Multiple sources, other than two, may also be used to increaseselectivity of the appropriate media component(s) for a read-writeevent. In any event, it is preferred that the cells take on aconcentered configuration, and that they be shaped for suchconcentricity, as further illustrated in FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 depicts comprised parts of a storage medium and system accordingto aspects of the present invention. As with the system discussed withrespect to FIG. 8, the system discussed with respect to FIG. 9 includesdirectable or directed electromagnetic radiation sources (in thisinstance, 901 and 903), and which may direct beams of radiation alongany of paired vector paths 905, 907, or 909, among other pairings (notpictured) for read or write activities at deeper levels, away from thecenter between the sources (some of which levels are also, notpictured). As with the analogous sources in FIG. 8, source 901 iscapable of directing beams along the half of the paired vectorsprojecting from the upper left-hand side toward the lower right-handside, and source 903 is capable of directing beams along the half of thepaired vectors projecting from the upper-right hand side toward thelower-left hand side of the figure. However, FIG. 9 further illustratesseveral additional aspects of the present invention, only some of whichwere discussed above, with respect to FIG. 8. First, sources 901 and 903may be swiveled, as a pair, along a circular path for their mounting,with respect to its circular grid array of media components 915, whichalso point radially outward from the center between the sources. Acomputer system (not pictured) may direct an actuator (also notpictured) to swivel either the sources on their mounting or the gridarray on their mounting, in appropriate stopping points to allow thesources to evenly address the center of the leading volume of a row ofgrid components, which may then be considered active, such as shownactive row of media components 917. A sensor, 927, may be used for bothreading and writing confirmation readings, which indicate theread/written condition of a media component. Specifically, when acomponent has been written by the system, a charge density or otherreaction condition may be detectable by return radiation which reflectsdirectly back from each surface between individual media components(shown as three per row, in this instance), and therefore passes backthrough the media in that cell. This configuration permits the sourcesto remain in a semi-fixed orientation with respect to one another, whilepermitting the reading of a wide variety of media cells. A greaterdensity of smaller media component cells than that pictured may be used,including smaller cell rows in greater numbers and at more angles,and/or with additional sets into the page, i.e., along a z-axis of thefigure (preferably, serial with the previous set, by a single strand,spiral configuration, may be used, to allow infinitely expandablestorage, particularly with spiral add-on units that may be fastenedtogether, to lengthen the spiral). In this instance, an actuatingmechanism for both spinning and drawing the media with respect to thesensor and source array should be used. A spherical array may also beused by simply extending the array, as it is shown in FIG. 9, in threedimensions, in which case the sensor source center piece may bespherical, rather than circular. Alternatively, sensors may be placed onthe far side of a row of media components, among other possibilities, inaddition to or instead of the location shown for sensor 927, and may befixed in position relative to the mounting for the sources. In thatinstance, reflection back by media components is not required forread/write scanning/confirmation.

FIGS. 10-15 relate to a system implementing aspects of the presentinvention related to encryption and decryption of message orinformation-carrying waves, such as electromagnetic radiation. Toimplement these aspects, information-carrying modulation of waves isused. Preferably, and as demonstrated in the figures, amplitudemodulation of two carrier source waves is used, but it should beunderstood that any form of wave modulation to carry information may beused, including, but not limited to, frequency modulation, periodmodulation, polarization modulation, a type of modulation based on theinstantaneous and potentially infinite warping of the direction of anelectromagnetic sine wave at any point or the derivation or integrationof all such points, and any number of source waves may be used.

FIG. 10 is a graphical depiction of an example wave amplitude modulationalphabet which may be implemented in a modulated carrier source wavethat may be used in certain encryption/decryption aspects of the presentinvention. A carrier wave, preferably of a substantially constantamplitude, frequency, polarization (especially in comparison to any ofthe Encrypted Source Beam waves generated by the system, such that thesecharacteristics are in common with each source wave encrypted and/ordecrypted by the system) may be provided by the system. Part of a such acarrier wave is shown as 1001, and a ruler 1003 with dashed line 1004which measures the crest (the amplitude, or substantial highestconcentration of particles, or particle location probabilities,depending on the type of wave used) are depicted. The ruler 1003 alsodepicts various possible levels of amplitude modulation of the carrierwave, at tick points (for example, tick points 1002) corresponding withamplitude levels 1 through 7 (the level of the second tick point orlevel up from the bottom of the ruler being twice the amplitude level ofthe first, and the level of the third tick/level up from the bottom ofthe ruler being three times the amplitude level of tick/level 1, and soon.) The potential amplitudes of such a modulated wave are demonstratedby wave sections 1005, 1007, 1009, 1011, 1013, 1015 and 1017, each ofwhich corresponds to one, and only one, of the ruler tick points.Including the level of the unmodulated carrier wave, the depictedmodulation alphabet for one source wave therefore comprises 7 units(symbols or keys) which may be output in a modulated source wave. Forconvenience, we may refer to amplitude modulation levels 1005, 1007,1009, 1011, 1013, 1015 and 1017 as energy or amplitude levels/symbols 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively, each matching a tick/level on theruler. It should be understood that, although an amplitude modulationalphabet is pictured as an example, any form of wave modulation tocommunicate data may be used, alternatively or in addition to theamplitude modulation example pictured.

FIG. 11 is a graphical depiction of an example modulated source signal1101, generated by the carrier beam, and using the alphabet of FIG. 10.Modulated source signal 1101 is modulated at particular regions 1103,1105, 1107, 1109, 1111 and 1113. In this instance, one may see, withreference to the modulation levels discussed with reference to FIG. 10,that, reading from right to left (from 1113 to 1103), that the modulatedsource signal comprises the following symbols, in the following order:amplitude level/symbols 5, 4, 3, 7, 6, 7.

FIG. 12 is a graphical depiction of another example modulated sourcesignal 1201, generated by a substantially identical carrier beam as usedin FIG. 11, and also using the symbol alphabet of FIG. 10. Modulatedsource signal 1201 is modulated at particular regions 1203, 1205, 1207,1209, 1211 and 1213. In this instance, one may see, with reference tothe modulation levels discussed with reference to FIG. 10, that, readingfrom right to left (from 1213 to 1203), the modulated source signalcomprises the following symbols, in the following order: amplitudelevel/symbols 1, 6, 6, 4, 2, 3.

FIG. 13 is a graphical depiction of an example of a resulting waveamplitude modulation symbol alphabet, resulting from the combination ofmultiple (in this instance 2) Encrypted Source Beam waves. As will beexplained in greater detail, with respect to FIG. 15, a system inaccordance with aspects of the present invention may cause 2 modulatedsource waves, such as those discussed with respect to FIGS. 11 and 12,to converge at a particular point, region, angle, period and timing suchthat, as they converge at a particular point or region, they generate asuperposed vector sum of a resultant wave that is in phase with the eachof the two source waves, which are, themselves, in phase. In theinstance of the symbol alphabet depicted in FIG. 13, the angle ofconvergence may be 45 degrees, with the source beams of equal strength,converging at the strengths depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12. As a result,the vector sum of the two constituent source waves would beapproximately 71 percent, if each were unmodulated, or 35.5 percent ofwhatever modulated power level each source wave contains. Given thateach source wave, in the instance of a two-source waveencryption/decryption language and system, has 7 symbol/power levels, aresulting alphabet for a resulting, decrypted and vector summed wavewill have 13 possible symbols/power levels, including the level obtainedby 2 unmodified carrier source waves. (Namely, the resultant amplitudealphabet will be from the minimum combination of two source wave level-1symbols (which we may call level 2 of the resultant wave in terms ofpower level, but level 1 in terms of the resultant wave lexicon) and amaximum combination of two level-7 source wave symbols (which we maycall level 14 in terms of power level, but level 13 in terms of theresultant wave lexicon.) The result of what the two unmodulated carriersource waves would be is shown as resultant carrier combination 1301. Aruler 1303 depicts 14 evenly-divided power levels at ticks (such as1302), 13 of which, as discussed above, are possible resulting powerlevels and symbols, which are shown as wave sections 1305, 1307, 1309,1311, 1313, 1315, 1317, 1319, 1321, 1323, 1325, 1327 and 1329, each ofwhich corresponds to one, and only one, of the ruler tick points. Asdiscussed above, wave section 1305 corresponds with the combination andsuperposition of two level-1 source wave sections. Wave section 1307corresponds with the combination of one level-1 source wave section andone level-2 source wave section, and so on, exhausting each in-phasesuperposition possibility.

The symbols to be employed by a control system implementing aspects ofthe present invention may be selected for delivery at a target locationin accordance with a varied, randomly-generated orsemi-randomly-generated combination algorithm. In other words, instancesof the same symbol in a resultant signal can be achieved by an unlimitedvariety of source symbol combinations selected by the control system,each of which is selected to sum to the desired resultant symbol at thetarget location. The control system may be programmed with an algorithmassigning various, preferably different and non-repeating source symbolcombinations to make hacking impossible. Fractional or even sourcelevels may be assigned to generate the source and resultant signals toyield a greater number of possible combinations. More than two sourcesmay also be used, yielding even stronger encryption, with three or moresource symbols superposing in a manner planned by the system at thetarget to yield the same resultant alphabet. The combination algorithmmay be more complex, and difficult to hack, using more sources.

The location-based encryption methods discussed herein can be used incombination with other forms of encryption, for example, by use of ashared key or cipher to further encode the resultant signal. The samecontrol system may be used to apply each layer of encryption.

FIG. 14 is a graphical depiction of an example resultant signal, thatmight be generated by the two example modulated carrier beams of FIGS.11 and 12, and implementing the alphabet, of FIG. 13. As a result,combining Encrypted Source Beam waves 1101 and 1201, assuming all of thenecessary identical conditions discussed above, results in resultingwave pattern 1401. From right to left, the now combined and decryptedword, phrase or other packet of symbols comprises the following symbols,in the following order: amplitude level/symbols (from the possibleresultant alphabet of FIG. 13: amplitude level/symbols: 6, 10, 9, 11, 8,10.

Through a separate encryption process (not pictured) such a resultant,unencrypted phrase may be broken down randomly by a computer hardwareand software system into random factors or subtraction results, withinthe integers permitted by the source alphabet, and then may be used tomodulate the source carrier waves in an encryption process that isdifficult to break, except within the intended recipient area targetedby the Encrypted Source Beam wave vectors.

FIG. 15 is a graphical depiction of a part of an example radio frequencysignal modulation, encryption, transmission, receiver and decryptionsystem, in accordance with aspects of the present invention. In thisexample, directional wave transmission broadcast antennas 1507 and 1509may broadcast waves of the same period, polarization and other importantcharacteristics for carrying out superposition aspects of the presentinvention, as discussed elsewhere in this application. Source waves 1511and 1512 may be substantially identical to the waves depicted anddiscussed with respect to FIGS. 11 and 12, and may be aimed as shown bythe directional antenna sources 1507 and 1509, such that theysubstantially converge at a point 1501, at an angle ø, 1503, which, inthis instance, is 45 degrees, as was the case in FIGS. 1-3. As a result,and as discussed with respect to FIGS. 13 and 14, their resulting vectorsum is a Decrypted Result Beam wave substantially identical to thatshown in FIG. 14, and shown in FIG. 15 as 1505. Using aspects of thepresent invention, if the location of a desired receiving area is known,a known array of transmission or other wave sources, such as 1507 and1509, can be oriented by a computer system to transmit randomized sourcealphabet components to that desired receiving area, such that theycreate the decrypted vector sum signal in that area only. Although asimple, even spatial division is shown in FIG. 15, it is also possibleto adjust the encrypted transmission for any distance by initiating thewave from the more distant location earlier, by the correct amount oftime such that its transmission across the distance to the receivingarea is simultaneous with the transmission from another, closer source.Power levels may also be appropriately adjusted, such that the desiredor necessary combination levels are achieved. Any number of alternativesource and resultant alphabets may also be used, and source alphabetsmay be unevenly applied to result in the correct resultant wave languageat given distances and transmission and receiving locations.

Rather than rely on the correct alignment of two Encrypted Source Beamwaves perfectly converging at the intended receiving and decryptionsuperposition target, a variety of spaced, identical different EncryptedSource Beam waves may be aimed at the receiving area, which may be at avariety of angles to cover the location and orientation of the intendedreceiving/decryption hardware. Using this technique, regardless of theperfection of in-phase superposition in any one instance of waveconvergence, at least one such set of superposing vectors will correctlysum to a valid combination, as may be quickly determined and selectedfor translation into a message by a receiving device, based on whetherisolated symbols of the correct proportions are being received, matchinga valid decryption vector sum library, such as that described withrespect to FIG. 12.

The system may, alternatively, receive just one Encrypted Source Beamwave which, when combined properly with a known second Encrypted SourceBeam wave form, which may be regenerated locally, by the receivinghardware, yields a Decrypted Result Beam.

FIG. 16 depicts the head and brain of a human medical patient, andanother exemplary hardware system carrying out aspects of the presentinvention related to radiation delivery. Although the context of patientTreatment is given for FIGS. 16 through 18 and certain other figures, itshould be understood that any target for ionizing or other criticalenergy level targets or subjects, with collateral structures and media,may be Treated in similar ways according to most aspects of the presentinvention. In FIG. 16, target volume 1601 is to be subjected to ionizingradiation. Examples of such targets include, but are not limited to,malignant or benign tumors and neurological source structures forundesired tremors or seizures. Directable radiation sources 1603 and1605 each face the patient's cranium, within which the target volume isembedded, and each radiation source may focus a radiation beam on partsof the target 1601, irradiating it simultaneously. Also pictured is arelatively important, healthy area of the subject's brain, 1607, nearbythe target tumor. A physician and/or analytical system may havedetermined that 1607 is especially important to the patient's health andfunction, in comparison with other nearby regions of the brain. As willbe explained in greater detail with respect to FIG. 17, due to 1607, andother relatively important structures, there may be no easy,straight-line path from a source, such as 1603, to a target area, suchas 1601. However, magnetic or electrostatic field generators 1609 and1611 may be used to create magnetic and/or electrostatic fields ofmultiple different side-by-side orientations, which may even be directlyopposed from one region to another. Preferably, magnetic and/orelectrostatic field generators 1609 and 1611 work in conjunction withone another, as shown, reinforcing the desired characteristics ofdesired magnetic and/or electrostatic fields in the patient. A controlsystem 1613, such as the system discussed in greater detail with respectto FIG. 19, may command magnetic and/or electrostatic field generators1609 and 1611, and their individually actuable regions, to generate thecharacteristics of the desired magnetic and/or electrostatic fields. Inaddition, local charging units 1615 and 1617 may be used, and controlledby control system 1615, to impart a local charge differential on nearbyor targeted areas, as by passing off electrons into the tissues ordrawing electrons from tissues towards them, for example, by conductionor creating a dipole, with the same net charge, in the tissue, but withlocalized regions of increased positive or negative charge. AlthoughFIG. 17 depicts two instances each of radiation sources, magnetic and/orelectrostatic field generators and charging units, it should beunderstood that a wide range of device arrays may be used to carry outaspects of the present invention. For example, anywhere from 1 toinfinity charging units, of any conformational shape, may be used. Inaddition, if particle therapy is used, a single radiation source may beused or, an infinite number of sources in a complementary spatial array,such as a concentric focal array, may be used with any form of ionizingradiation for carrying out many aspects of the present invention.Similarly, a single, wrap-around magnetic or electrostatic fieldgenerator device(s) or unit(s) may be used, or many multiple instancesof such generators, dedicated to generating different magnetic fieldlines in different regions of the subject which may be curved orotherwise shaped differently than the straight-path fields depicted inFIG. 16, while still directing radiation toward intended targets andaround structures that need protection from radiation energy transfer.

Turning to FIG. 17, the significance of the electrostatic and magneticfields and charge differentials generated by aspects of the inventiondiscussed with reference to FIG. 16 can be better understood in thecontext of further aspects of the invention. FIG. 17 depicts a partialview of the same human patient subject discussed with respect to FIG.16, including a detailed outline of a structural target within the brainof the human patient. In addition, FIG. 17 depicts a sequence ofexemplary particle radiation conditions that may be controlled andmonitored in accordance with aspects of the present invention. The righthemisphere 1701 of the patient's brain is included in FIG. 17, and shownin greater detail than in FIG. 16. The target region volume is shown ingreater detail as well, as 1703. A critical healthy structure of brainmaterial, to be Protected from ionizing radiation, is shown as 1705. Aparticle emitted by a beam of particle radiation, with a particularcharge, such as a proton, is shown at different positions over time as1719 through 1731, and passes through magnetic and/or electrostaticfield lines 1707-1717. 1719 through 1731 illustrate the chargedparticle's location at even time intervals, and therefore, map itstrajectory through the patient's brain, which trajectory is, generally,from the left-hand side of the figure toward the right-hand side of thefigure. 1719 depicts the location of the positively-charged particle,such as a proton, at the first point in time considered by the figure,which point in time may be called T₁. Progressing to the second point intime, the same particle's position is illustrated an instant later(i.e., the amount of time it takes the particle to travel the distancedepicted, which is about 1 centimeter at its current speed, at about 30to 40% of the speed of light), at a point in time that we may call T₂(shown as particle location 1721). As can be seen by the relativelyconstant vertical position of the particle between positions 1719 and1721, the particle's initial velocity, at T₁ is almost entirely in ahorizontal direction, toward the right-hand side of the figure. However,at particle location 1721, the particle proceeds into an electric and/ormagnetic field, depicted by electrostatic and/or magnetic field line1707, which flows generally from the top to the bottom of the figure. Byconvention, the electrostatic and magnetic fields are depicted by arrowsshowing the direction of force that would be applied to a positivelycharged particle at the location of the arrows. Thus, becauseelectrostatic and/or magnetic field line 1707 flows from the top of thefigure, toward the bottom of the figure, the positively charged particlebegins to accelerate in that direction, and its path begins to curvearound the critical brain component 1705, as dictated by the system,optionally, with magnetic field tuning based on live feedback concerningthe particle, the stream of related particles' path from the samesource. As the particle continues to proceed generally from the left tothe right-hand side of the figure, and arrives at position 1723, itagain is immersed in an electrostatic and/or electromagnetic field linethat forces it downward, its acceleration in that direction continues,and its partial velocity in that direction builds further. As theparticle continues to progress at a relatively constant horizontalvelocity, and maneuvers around critical feature 1705, it enters areversed electrostatic or magnetic field at point 1725, as shown by line1711, which flows from the bottom to the top of the page. At this point,the particle's downward velocity has accumulated appreciably, and thereversed field indicated by magnetic line or electrostatic field line1711 begins to decrease, but does not yet immediately arrest, thatvertical downward velocity component. As a result, the particlecontinues to curve around critical feature 1705, as planned by physicalmodels incorporated in the system's Treatment plan, based on the massand electromagnetic properties of both the fields and the particles. Asthe particle approaches location 1727, it remains in an electrostaticand/or electromagnetic field flowing vertically from the bottom to thetop of the page. At this point, the particle has successfullycircumnavigated the widest point downward, vertically, of criticalfeature 1705 and the particle reaches the apex of its curve as itsdownward vertical velocity is reduced toward zero by the electrostaticand/or magnetic field. Next, the particle proceeds to gain a partiallyupward velocity by continued acceleration of the electrostatic and/ormagnetic field, which continues to flow in that direction, at positionpoint 1729. At this point, the particle may be thought of as starting tosteer toward the target location 1703, while continuing to curve aroundcritical feature 1705, which is Protected from the otherwisestraight-line path of the particle. To further assist in attraction tothe correct target location, a charging device (not pictured) such ascharger 1617 from FIG. 16, may impart a negative charge on structuresnear, and to the upper-right hand side of target 1703, by, for example,conducting electrons into tissue in that region. By positional point1731, the particle flows into the target volume, while continuing toaccelerate upward. While this may be desired to ensure that the greatestpossible amount of target material lies in the particle's path,increasing the likelihood that it will ionize material there, forexample, at the end of a Bragg curve, it may also or otherwise bedesirable to alter the electrostatic and/or electromagnetic field uponentering the target, such that the path becomes further curved and,preferably, spiral—which spiral path turns inward or otherwise isconfined against exiting the target material until ionization hasoccurred in target volume 1703.

FIG. 18 also depicts a detailed outline of a structural target withinthe brain of a human patient, and depicts another sequence of exemplaryradiation conditions that may be controlled or monitored according toaspects of the present invention. More specifically, FIG. 18 depicts twobeam waves of ionizing electromagnetic radiation, 1801 and 1803,emanating from opposing directions, with the same period, preferably incounter-phase (180 degrees out-of-phase), and emanating from theirsources with the same relative polarization and amplitude. Electrostaticand/or electromagnetic fields are again created by magnetic and/orelectrostatic field generators, such as 1609 and 1611 depicted in FIG.16, and create two discrete, exactly opposed electromagnetic fields: 1)an electromagnetic field applied upon the left edge where beam 1803enters the target volume 1805 and/or exits critical structure 1807, and2) an electromagnetic field applied upon the right edge where beam 1801enters the target volume 1805 and or exits its collateral brainstructures to the right. The former of these fields is described byelectrostatic or electromagnetic field line 1809, and the latter ofthese fields is depicted by electrostatic or electromagnetic field line1811. In this way, because electromagnetic waves shift theirpolarization when passing through a medium when subject to anexternally-applied magnetic field (a magneto-optic effect), opposing,matched waves may better counter one another on either side of thetarget volume, creating a more effective standing wave that does nottransfer ionizing radiation, but each wave entering the field at oneedge of the target volume is brought out of phase with the opposing wavewhile passing through the target region, and may be brought back intothe same polarization to again Protect collateral material upon exit atthe other end of the target volume by the opposite magnetic and/orelectrostatic field on the other side of the target volume.Simultaneously, the same fields may bring the two waves back into phaseupon exit, by reversing the process that brought each of them out ofphase upon entrance. Additional sensors (not pictured) may test, orperiodically test, interference levels in the collateral tissues, bytesting methods discussed elsewhere in this application, and adjustcharacteristics of the fields or sources (or add or adjust instances ofthem) to optimize Protective interference in the collateral material,especially, critical regions, and ionizing radiation in the target.

Magneto-optic effects may also be used in conjunction with other aspectsof the present invention, such as those aspects discussed in relation toFIG. 5, to slow the propagation of the Treatment Beam of one source,with beam waves of one chirality, as it passes through the medium andmagnetic field, in comparison to a Treatment Beam from another source,with waves of the opposite chirality. In this way, the two waves may beinitially out-of-phase, when passing through collateral or criticalstructures, and then brought in phase when passing into a targetstructure.

In any radiation source configuration covered in this application where,as in the aspects covered in FIG. 18, two sources face one another anddeliver pulses of energy substantially toward one another, other aspectsmay be used to protect each source from radiation emanating from thesource opposing it—such as a variable shielding. Preferably, anabsorptive shutter, which is absorptive on the side facing the radiationfrom the opposing source, closes at the correct time and for the correctduration to absorb any pulse received from the opposing source, and thenre-opens to allow the source with the actuated shutter to emit its ownpulse. The timing may be orchestrated and adjusted based on feedbackfrom sensors indicating whether opposing radiation is properly blocked.Alternatively, or in addition to such shielding, the sources themselvesmay avoid such opposing radiation by movement—for example, a juke tododge the arrival of an opposing pulse, or, due to rotation of thesources, wherein superposition paths at the target shift fromconvergence point to convergence point around the volume, the pulses maybe timed by the system to miss any other source, and, instead, hitneighboring electromagnetic shielding.

FIG. 19 is a schematic block diagram of some elements of a controlsystem 1900, preferably incorporating a machine-readable medium, thatmay be used to implement various aspects of the present invention, otherelements of which are depicted in FIGS. 1-18 and 20-23. The generic andother components and aspects described herein are not exhaustive of themany different systems and variations, including a number of possiblehardware aspects and machine-readable media that might be used, inaccordance with the invention. Rather, the system 1900 is described hereto make clear how aspects may be implemented.

Among other components, the system 1900 includes an input/output device1901, a memory device 1903, storage media and/or hard disk recorderand/or cloud storage port or connection device 1905, and a processor orprocessors 1907. The processor(s) 1907 is (are) capable of receiving,interpreting, processing and manipulating signals and executinginstructions for further processing and for output, pre-output and/orstorage in and outside of the system. The processor(s) 1907 may begeneral or multipurpose, single- or multi-threaded, and may have asingle core or several processor cores, including microprocessors. Amongother things, the processor is capable of processing signals andinstructions for the input/output device 1901, analogreceiver/storage/converter device 1919, and/or analog in/out device1921, to cause a user interface to be provided or modified for use by auser on hardware, such as, but not limited to, physical hand controls(e.g., 3-D hand sensor, scalpel emulator, endoscopic instrument orjoystick control) and/or a personal computer monitor or terminal monitorwith a mouse and keyboard and presentation and input software (as in aGUI).

For example, “window” presentation user interface aspects may present auser with the option to target particular locations of visual emulationsof a target model, which lead radiation sources to correspondinglytarget emulated and modeled real targets, based on live feedback, suchas imaging and the detected movement of painted or edge/boundarydetected targets within a collateral medium or material. As anotherexample, the user interface and hardware may allow a user to manipulatea “virtual scalpel” in real time, and with reference to a live modeldepicted on a computer monitor and presenting instantaneous informationfrom an Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (“MRI”) or X-ray radiographic(e.g., CAT scan) machine, which may allow a surgeon to apply ionizingenergy to (or “lance”) particular areas of a target, in particularshapes and sizes or pulses and pulse rates to substantially ionizematter, which size and shape may be given a hardness of edge, tolerance,and strength, all individually controllable by a user or surgeon. Avirtual scalpel or other ionizing/Protecting tool may include a shapedcursor which may be semi-transparent, and may allow the user/surgeon toplan and view a portrayed path for the planned future ionization orother, for example actual, robotic, surgical lancing or surgical subjectmanipulation, before it is actually implemented on a subject (whichexecution can be done in parts or degrees or completely, with aseparate, later command to the system). This surgical or manipulationpath planning may be done with a cursor or other display, such as acomputer monitor, or depiction/control hardware and techniques (e.g.,3-D physical contour and cutting or manipulation emulation device). Inany event, a surgeon may create a path of planned movement formanipulation or lancing by programming such a path and/or by firstexecuting the path in virtual or real space and, optionally, reviewing adepicted path based on that execution, and, if satisfied with thecharacteristics of the movement(s) of the executed path (e.g.,direction(s), length(s), breadth(s), pressure(s), actual or real tissuereaction(s), location(s), size(s) of lancing or projected lancing, orblunt instrument trial of where lancing will take place), all of whichcharacteristics may be displayed numerically or graphically as anattribute of a depicted path in a display as a “Planned Path,”representation, the surgeon may then choose to have the path executed onthe patient/target tissues. Optionally, before choosing to execute thepath, the surgeon or other user may choose to save a file composed andcapable of executing the characteristics of the movement on the system.Also optionally, the surgeon or other user may elect to modifyindividual, several or all characteristics of the path over any part ofthe path's progression, again may choose to save such a file, and againmay choose to execute the path, which may be executed at differentspeeds along the path or even with a graduated acceleration device,which may be stopped at any time during observation of the movement. Thesystem may automatically, or at the surgeon's direction, adjust the pathor path segments for unintended hand tremor by smoothing or drawing moregraduated curves and movement accelerations along progressions or as tocharacteristics of the path. The system may automatically, or a user maydirect it, to generate Protective radiation in greater, lesser or otheramounts that better interfere and Protect against ionizing radiation,for Protected collateral areas, as well, as another example, based onlive feedback concerning the amount of Protection actually occurringthrough interference, as sensed by the system, and/or based on physicalmodels, including refraction models. The processor 1907 is capable ofprocessing instructions stored in memory devices 1905 and/or 1903 (orROM or RAM), and may communicate via system buses 1975. Input/outputdevice 1901 is capable of input/output operations for the system, andmay include and communicate through innumerable input and/or outputhardware, and innumerable instances thereof, such as a computer mouse,MRI machine, X-Ray radiography device, robotic surgical actuator(s),magnetic field creators or modifiers/oscillators (andmagnetically-actuated, locatable nano-particles or manipulation devicesthat are systemically or locally available in patients, e.g., particleswith abrasive surfaces that may spin, expand, grab, cauterize throughelectric charge, in an oscillating magnetic field and that may alsoreact to markers on targets, available through injection into thepatient), such as communications antenna, electromagnetic radiationsource(s), keyboard, networked or connected second computer, camera orscanner, a multi-tiered information storage device, such as thatdescribed with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 (including its actuators andread/write apparati), mixing board, real-to-real tape recorder, externalhard disk recorder, additional movie and/or sound editing system orgear, speakers, external filter, amp, preamp, equalizer, computerdisplay screen or touch screen. It is understood that the output of thesystem may be in any perceptible form. Such a display device or unit andother input/output devices could implement a program or user interfacecreated by machine-readable means, such as software, permitting thesystem and user to carry out the user settings and input discussed inthis application. 1901, 1903, 1905, 1907, 1919, 1921 and 1923 areconnected and able to communicate communications, transmissions andinstructions via system bus(ses) 1975. Storage media and/or hard diskrecorder and/or cloud storage port or connection device 1905 is capableof providing mass storage for the system, and may be a computer-readablemedium, may be a connected mass storage device (e.g., flash drive orother drive connected to a U.S.B. port or Wi-Fi) may use back-end (withor without middle-ware) or cloud storage over a network (e.g., theinternet) as either a memory backup for an internal mass storage deviceor as a primary memory storage means, or may simply be an internal massstorage device, such as a computer hard drive or optical drive.Generally speaking, the system may be implemented as a client/serverarrangement, where features of the invention are performed on a remoteserver, networked to the client and made a client and server by softwareon both the client computer and server computer.

Input and output devices may deliver their input and receive output byany known means, including, but not limited to, the examples shown as1917. The input managed and distributed by the system may be anyrepresentational aspect or signal or direct impression captured from anysensed or modeled activity, and may be taken or converted as inputthrough any sensor or carrier means known in the art. In addition,directly carried elements (for example a light stream taken by fiberoptics from a view of a scene) may be directly managed, manipulated anddistributed in whole or in part to enhance output, and whole ambientlight information may be taken by a series of sensors dedicated toangles of detection, or an omnidirectional sensor or series of sensorswhich record direction as well as the presence of photons sensed and/orrecorded, and may exclude the need for lenses (or ignore or re-purposesensors “out of focal plane” for detecting bokeh information orenhancing resolution as focal lengths and apertures are selected), onlylater to be analyzed and rendered into focal planes or fields of auser's choice through the system. For example, a series of metallicsensor plates that resonate with photons propagating in particulardirections would also be capable of being recorded with directionalinformation, in addition to other, more ordinary light data recorded bysensors. While this example is illustrative, it is understood that anyform of electromagnetism, compression wave or other sensory phenomenonmay include such sensory, directional and 3D locational information,which may also be made possible by multiple locations of sensing,preferably, in a similar or measurably related, if not identical, timeframe. The system may condition, select all or part of, alter and/orgenerate composites from all or part of such direct or analog imagetransmissions, and may combine them with other forms of image data, suchas digital image files, if such direct or data encoded sources are used.Specialized sensors for detecting the presence of interference orresonance of radiation of any type, and imaging the sources or capturingthe forces applied based on the known characteristics of waves andelectromagnetic radiation in particular, may also be included forinput/output devices.

While the illustrated system example 1900 may be helpful to understandthe implementation of aspects of the invention, it is understood thatany form of computer system may be used—for example, a simpler computersystem containing just a processor for executing instructions from amemory or transmission source. The aspects or features set forth may beimplemented with, and in any combination of, digital electroniccircuitry, hardware, software, firmware, or in analog or direct (such aslight-based or analog electronic or magnetic or direct transmission,without translation and the attendant degradation, of the image medium)circuitry or associational storage and transmission, as occurs in anorganic brain of a living animal, any of which may be aided withexternal detail or aspect enhancing media from external hardware andsoftware, optionally, by networked connection, such as by LAN, WAN orthe many connections forming the internet. The system can be embodied ina tangibly-stored computer program, as by a machine-readable medium andpropagated signal, for execution by a programmable processor. The methodsteps of the embodiments of the present invention may be performed bysuch a programmable processor, executing a program of instructions,operating on input and output, and generating output. A computer programincludes instructions for a computer to carry out a particular activityto bring about a particular result, and may be written in anyprogramming language, including compiled and uncompiled and interpretedlanguages and machine language, and can be deployed in any form,including a complete program, module, component, subroutine, or othersuitable routine for a computer program.

It should be noted that, in several embodiments of the presentinvention, it has been stated to be preferable to target leading, outerstructures of a target. This serves at least two functions. First, thesuperposed result will intensify along a path that enters further intothe target, rather than exiting the target, at least initially. Second,the Treatment of diseased living tissues may be cut-off from bloodsupply and metastasis by creating a “dead ring” of encapsulating,ionized tissue. Other patterns, aside from converging and focusing beamsand/or waves on the leading structures or volumes of a target may alsobe used, to otherwise heat, condition and mark the target volume forfurther identification and actions. For example, patterns which aid inthe reabsorption of some targets, such as periodic gaps in heavierdosage designed to “break up” the target mass, may be used. As anotherexample, local regions may be temporarily marked with a pattern ofconvergent radiation, which may be lower or even a relatively “safe”level, to aid in the proper location of the target for further, ionizingradiation.

The embodiments of the present invention may be combined withradio-sensitizing agents, applied to a target volume (e.g., byinjection, or drawing by magnetic field and electromagnetic taggingand/or genetic tagging to match a sequence in malignant cells), ornaturally coalescing in a target based on other dynamics (e.g., fluidpathways, colligative forces). Agents that fluoresce or otherwise can beread to indicate radiation pathways through both the target volume andcollateral material and media, may also be present systemically, to aidthe system in assessing existing radiation beam pathways, and adjustingsuch pathways to optimize dosage in light of reflection, absorption andrefraction patterns, as they are observed. Insertable beacons, which maycontain lensing and/or radiation re-routing mirrors or other radiationpath-diverting elements, may be placed at or near the target, to allowboth the accurate location of the target volume and the focusing ofradiation from a more diffuse density of radiation in collateral matteror media, into a more concentrated dosage at the target—or may be placedto allow circumnavigation of critical structures, which thereby avoidradiation dosage. More conventional tagging, such as body surfacetagging, may also, or alternatively, be used to locate a previouslydetermined target location. The system may plan for, and verify,oscillating or other movements (e.g., breathing, heartbeat, body roll),and how they proceed in comparison to a target, to more accuratelylocate the target by using a plurality of cross-compared beacons (e.g.,by triangulation, quadrangulation, etc., with correction for outliermovements or oscillations of one or more tags). As discussed in greaterdetail below, a control system such as that discussed with reference tothis figure may be used to control any servo motors, instruments andradiotherapy emission sources set forth in this application forcontrolling radiotherapy techniques, as well as imaging devices, withprogramming dictating such execution and/or control, by any known wiredor wireless communications and command protocols, and carry out orcontrol any aspects set forth in this application. The control systemset forth with reference to this figure may also power any such devicesor, alternatively, a separate source of power may supply both thedevices and the control system.

In other aspects of the present invention, a target volume may beaccelerated toward a source beam as the pulse enters the target volume,thereby increasing the frequency and energy level in the target, whilereversing acceleration as the radiation exits. Using a high frequencyvibration of the target volume, relative to its collateral material, anda set of sources delivering radiation at the same time and against thesame direction as each vibrational acceleration, it is possible toincrease the energy level of absorbed radiation, while decreasing it forcollateral material and media.

FIG. 20 is a partially cutaway frontal view of a human head 2000, aradiation source 2001 and an implantable fluorescent focal device 2003,for use in radiation therapy in accordance with aspects of the presentinvention. As in other aspects of the present invention, anexternally-originating beam of radiation 2005 is provided, and aimedgenerally toward a target mass 2007. However, the fluorescent focaldevice 2003 is placed in between source 2001 and target mass 2007 andexternal beam 2005 specifically targets a beam-facing, external,absorptive section 2006, comprising atomic, molecular and/or largerconstituent structures capable of absorbing energy from external beam2005 and, as a result, emitting a different, higher energy or otherwisemore tissue-destructive form of radiation, focused toward the targetmass 2007. In other words, focal device 2003 fluoresces in response toreceiving source beam 2005 and also serves to focus fluoresced beams ofradiation 2008, concentrating them on the target mass 2007. Device 2003may further comprise a radiation-lensing or otherwise radiation-focusingemissive shaped surface 2009, aiding in achieving that focus for theemitted radiation 2008. In addition, a variably implantable shield 2011may be placed on a side opposing fluorescent focal device 2003,specifically positioned to absorb the fluorescent beams 2008. In someembodiments, which are preferred, device 2003 creates a limited,controlled-width range of beams, and the beams emit a form of localizedor locally absorbed radiation. As a result, the size of both the device2003 and the shield 2011 may be limited in at least one dimension,greatly reducing their necessary, complementary profile, and greatlydecreasing the adverse impact (if any) of their implantation.

In some preferred embodiments, external source beam 2005 is of arelatively harmless form of radiation, relative to human tissue (and itsgenetic material). However, the emitted beams 2008 from fluorescentdevice 2003 are preferably tissue-ionizing. To achieve this,multi-photon absorption within the structures of device 2003, and/ormagnetic actuation of device 2003 may be used. Alternatively, a lessharmful, albeit somewhat ionizing form of radiation, may be used as theexternal beam of radiation 2005. In other embodiments, a radiationsource may be included within device 2003, and may be variably shieldedby external (including remote control) actuation of a movable shield orinterlaceable matrix (not pictured) that may variably withhold theradiation and/or convert it to a harmless form, and, in someembodiments, variably shield that radiation in specified emissivedirections (e.g., by variably-pivotable shield louver(s) (also notpictured).

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an exemplary endoscopic radiation focaland shielding instrument 2100, in accordance with aspects of the presentinvention. Focal instrument 2100 comprises a main cannula 2101. Cannula2101 is insertable into a human or other animal patient's body with theaid of a rounded, tapered insertion-facilitating tip 2103, which maypenetrate and be inserted through skin, muscular walls, viscera andother organs and layers of tissue—in some embodiments, with the aid ofprior incisions through which tip 2103 may then be threaded. Withincannula 2101 is a push-band 2105, with a high tensile rigidity—in otherwords, it is relatively inelastic, incompressible and unstretchablealong its length, permitting pushing movements to be translated directlyinto actuation movements of a device attached to its end. However, band2105 is relatively flexible, and able to turn and curve along its lengththrough channels and around walls within cannula 2101 and instrument2100 in general. Examples of materials with these properties when in theform of band 2105 include various plastics and natural fibers, such ascellulose, known in the art. Band 2105 splits at the end nearest to tip2103, and its split end is attached to distal edges 2106 of a device atthe same end of cannula 2101 as tip 2103—namely, an extending, curvingshield, mirror, lens or other curved sheet (or set of sheets) 2107. Whenthe length of band 2105 is pushed toward tip 2103, band 2105 is notcompressed, but turns in channels 2109 within cannula 2101, whichtranslate the motion of the ends 2111 attached to edges 2106 intopathways perpendicular to the length of cannula 2101, and sheet 2107 isextended (as pictured). Due to a natural tendency to curve of sheet2107, sheet 2107 takes on a conformation when extended presenting as aconcave mirror or other focal lens, or enveloping shield (facing theviewer and upper-left-corner, in the perspective of the figure.Conversely, when band 2105 is retracted, focal sheet 2107 is retractedand folded substantially into the body of cannula 2101 (within storagepockets 2113). Sheet 2107 may comprise folding and elastic, force-biasedmaterials that encourage that folding and storage, when band 2105 is soretracted.

Driving the pushing or pulling of band 2105 (to cause the extension orretraction, respectively, of sheet 2107) are manual controls 2115,attached to a handgrip 2117, itself attached to the end of cannula 2101opposite tip 2103. In some embodiments, controls 2115 may be electronic,and actuate band retraction and extension via servo/motors wired orotherwise in communication with controls 2115. However, preferably, atleast some of controls 2115 are manual, as pictured, to preserveactuation feel, and attached physical connections, such (such asexemplary push rod 2118 connected to the index andsecond-finger-actuated manual control loop, at the top) to a lever orwheel (such as exemplary push wheel 2119, via connector 2121), to causeband 2105, connected to the outer edge of lever or wheel 2119, to becorrespondingly pushed or retracted in channels within cannula 2101. Thelowest control 2115 (which may control another feature of device 2100,not pictured), by contrast, is pinky and/or ring finger actuated, andcannula 2101 is preferably held between the second and ring fingers, asthe user's hand grips handle 2117.

In a preferred method, a surgeon facilitates radiotherapy orradiosurgery using instrument 2101 by: retracting sheet 2107 (orensuring that it is retracted) into pockets 2113; creating entryincision(s) for a pathway to the far side (opposing the direction fromwhich radiation will be sent) of a radiation treatment target,preferably, at least partially surrounding said treatment target, andfocusing radiation onto a treatment target while shielding tissuesneighboring the treatment target from radiation when sheet 2107 is laterextended; substantially so extending sheet 2107; dosing sheet 2107, theresulting mirror lens it forms, and the treatment target with radiation,while shielding neighboring tissues from the radiation. As will beexplained in greater detail below, in some methods of the presentinvention, the surgeon may also cauterize tissues as he or she isinserting instrument 2100, or extending sheet 2107. The steps of themethods discussed above may be carried out in a wide variety ofalternative orders, and the listed order is exemplary only.

In some embodiments, the leading edges 2106 of sheet 2107 areelectrically-powered cauterizing devices, wired to a power source (e.g.,through a wire embedded in band 2105). In such embodiments, a surgeonusing cannula 2101 may cauterize and penetrate tissue blocking the pathof sheet 2107 as it is extended, for example, using a cautery-actuatingthumb button 2123, electronically controlling the cauteries. A powersource and control system for actuating the cauteries, and othercontrols, if electronically controlled in the given embodiment, may beresident within instrument 2101 and wired to the actuators they controland power, or may be resident elsewhere but connected to or otherwiseable to transmit power and communications to those controls andactuators which they control.

Although the example of an instrument administered focal mirror or otherlens is shown, it should be understood that this is exemplary, and aseparate (or detachable focal mirror may be positioned and or implantedas discussed in reference to this figure. Similarly, a fixed, ratherthan collapsible mirror or focal lens may be used, in some embodiments.

To guide a surgeon using device 2100, an extension indicator, such asextension degree indicating window 2125 may be included. The rotationaldegrees surrounding a treatment target that is the focus of mirror orlens 2107 (and therefore, the degree of extension of mirror or lens2107) may then be indicated to the surgeon, as he or she extends it.This indicator may be manually driven, by labels on wheel 2119, visiblethrough window 2125. Alternatively, window 2125 may be a controlsystem-actuable and powered (e.g., LCD) display.

FIG. 22 is a perspective drawing depicting a new radiotherapy machine2200 with multiple, simultaneously radiation sources 2201 and 2203. Eachradiation source, 2201 and 2203 may be positioned at a wide variety ofradiation emission angles by a computer system-actuable gantry 2205(comprising a set of adjustable, actuable arms 2206 and 2207) to treat atarget mass inside a human or other animal subject (not pictured) layingon a flat bed 2208. Furthermore, sources 2201 and 2203 may be put inmotion during such treatment, while remaining trained on the target mass(e.g., at a point 2209) preventing the prolonged irradiation of tissuescollateral to the treatment target (through which, radiation beams, suchas examples 2211, pass to reach point 2209). Gantry 2205 is able toposition sources 2201 and 2203 at opposing angles from a lineperpendicular to the surface of the human or animal subject (aspictured). In a preferred embodiment, the opposing nature of thepositions of sources 2201 and 2203 are maintained, as they are put inmotion as discussed above. Also in a preferred embodiment, sources 2201and 2203 are placed in continuous motion by a rotating rig 2213 to whichthey are attached, and which is rotated about an axel 2215 by acomputer-system controlled motor within a main supporting arm 2217(which itself may be position adjusted by control system actuablemotors). For example, in one exemplary embodiment, rig 2213 rotatesabout axel 2215 during radiation treatment in a clockwise direction(when viewed from above, as pictured) as illustrated by rotationalmotion arrow 2219. In addition, each source 2201 and 2203 may be,simultaneously with this rotational motion, raised to increasingly acuteangles with the parallel line from the surface of the subject, bycontrol system actuated servo motors within arms 2206 and 2207,controlling the angle of hinges 2220, and linear actuators 2223controlling the control system-variable length of arm sections 2222.Correspondingly, emitted beams 2211 from one of the sources (namely,2201) are swept across a spiral path about exemplary spiral pattern 2221at the outer surface of the human or animal subject. The emitted beamsfrom the other source (2203) is also swept across a spiral path,preferably different from spiral path pattern 2221, and, even morepreferably, exactly centered within the spaces between spiral path 2221,as pictured. An example of such an overlapping pattern is shown below,in FIG. 23, as exemplary overlapping pattern pair 2301. To accomplishthis, the opposing angle of source 2203 is not an exact mirror image ofthe angle of source 2201. But both paths, 2221 and the correspondingpath of source 2203, are constantly trained at the target mass (e.g., atpoint 2209). In an even more preferred embodiment, the spiral paths areadjusted and morphed to optimize the distribution of radiation to thetreatment target, and throughout, collateral non-treatment subjecttissues. This adjustment can be made in real time, based on live imagingof the treatment target and other subject tissues.

In addition to the varying, opposing treatment angles of sources 2201and 2203, each source 2201 and 2203 may further comprise multiple beamsof radiation 2211, emitted from opposing angles and intersecting at thetreatment target (e.g., point 2209) as pictured. Preferably, theposition and angle of the multiple beams may also be varied, leading tothe ability to select intersection points at different distances fromthe source 2201 or 2203. For example, alternate beam positions 2224 and2225 may be selected and control-system-mandated. By transitioning tosuch paths, and controlling gantry 2205 to maintain the intersection ofthe emitted beams at the treatment target (e.g. 2209), the dosage tocollateral tissues may be even more greatly varied, and spread outacross them, while maintaining treatment of the target.

In addition, the control system may both rotate main gantry wheel 2227and body length position adjusting arm 2229 (which the control systemmay shift fore and aft along bed 2208) to distribute the dosage aboutthrough wide variety of subject surfaces, anywhere all the way aroundthe subject, and administer the spiral dosages in a smeared out pathway,wrapped and bent around the subject.

Due to the differing positions, rotational velocity and movements ofsources 2201 and 2203, and different collateral matter through whichradiation generated from the sources must travel, the control system maydetermine the relative positions of each source from the target, and mapall collateral matter, along a function describing the beams' path, andadjust the period, frequency, or any other attribute of beams that theyeach generate, to carry out constructive superposition at the targetthroughout treatment in accordance with aspects of the present inventionset forth in this application. As with other aspects discussed above, alonger beam path to target, due to a greater distance of a source orgreater or more instances of refraction through collateral matter in abeam path, may be determined by the control system, may requireadvancing the period as the beam is emitted, to optimize constructiveinterference at the target. The system may seek and exploit paths withgreatly differing distances in this way, to decrease incidentalconstructive interference, and increase protection (by destructiveinterference) in collateral objects through which the beam paths passprior to reaching the target. Differences in the birefringence of thecollateral material through which the different beams pass may also bedetermined and applied in planning the period and other wave attributesof each beam upon emission, projecting and causing them toconstructively interfere upon arrival at the target site, but not atother, earlier and later, points in time.

Radiotherapy machine 2200 may be used with sources implementing otheraspects of the invention set forth in this application. For example,beams from source 2201 may be generated that have the same period andfrequency, or a harmonic or otherwise constructively-building frequency,when they intersect at the above-stated intersection points. And anybeam from source 2201 and source 2203 also may be generated that havethe same period and frequency, or a harmonic or otherwiseconstructively-building frequency, when they intersect at theabove-stated intersection points.

But machine 2200 may also be used with more conventional radiationtherapy sources and techniques, not involving the intersection of beamsat a target, with their separation within collateral tissues. In anotherembodiment, one source 2201 does not simultaneously treat the same pointas source 2203, and their respective beams need not intersect with oneanother. Instead, a source first treating the target point charges thematerials with its radiation beams (some of which are absorbed withinatoms of the target mass, e.g., exciting electrons within DNA tohigher-energy orbitals. While still charged, the second source thentreats the same point, leading to additional energy absorption, breakingof bonds, and greater destruction of the target mass. In this way,dosage to collateral matter can be even more greatly distributed.

FIG. 23 depicts a series of radiation beam pattern pairs, 2301, 2303 and2305, emanating from sources 2201 and 2203, discussed above. It is to beunderstood that, as with pattern 2221, discussed above, these patternsoccur at or about the surface of the human or animal subject (pair 2301and 2303) or within the subject's body, but not as far down as thetarget point (pair 2305). First, in pair 2301, as discussed above, apattern from source 2201 at or about the surface of the subject ispictured (also pictured in the greater context of a radiotherapy machinein FIG. 22, above, as spiral pattern 2221.) A second spiral, 2302, isalso pictured, spaces between pattern path 2221. As both patternsdescend and converge toward a target, however, they merge and, due tooverlapping constructively interfering frequencies, periods, polarity orother attributes, form a united waveform of much higher energy densityat the treatment target. In an embodiment creating pattern pair 2301,each source preferably has an angle relative to a line perpendicularfrom the subject's outer surface permitting the nesting of spiral 2302within the interstitial space of pattern 2221 until each pattern reachesthe treatment target.

Beam pattern pair 2303 illustrates additional features, comprisingdestructive interference at a point in time prior to beams from the twosources converging. The top pattern, 2307, describes a pattern above thesubject drawn by source 2201, which is positioned at an angle more acuteto the perpendicular line from the surface of the subject than source2203. The lower pattern, 2309, is drawn by source 2203, out wider fromthe subject than source 2201, at the surface of the subject. Due to itsmore oblique treatment angle, pattern 2309 is wider and descends moreslowly than pattern 2307. But pattern 2309 also converges at a greaterrate than pattern 2307. Thus, at the instant pictured, the outer edgesweep 2311 of pattern 2307 may abut an inner sweep 2313 of pattern 2309.If those abutting regions are made, by a control system planning theperiod, frequency, polarity and other radiation wave attributes of eachpattern, to destructively interfere at the instant shown, protectionwill then occur at the instant pictured. At a later interval within atreatment target, however, due to the greater rate of convergence andslower rate of descent of pattern 2309, the two patterns (then depictedas 2315 and 2317) are then overlapping at constructively relatedregions, as they converge—again by a control system planning the period,frequency, polarity and other radiation wave attributes of each pattern,causing outer region 2318 to constructively interfere with region 2319.

The control systems discussed in FIGS. 21-23 may be a computer systemsuch as that set forth earlier in this application, with reference toFIG. 19.

FIG. 24 is a perspective drawing, depicting aspects of the inventionapplied in a handheld wireless communications device 2400. As with theinstrument and method set forth above, in reference to FIG. 21, device2400 comprises at least one extendable and retractable sheet 2401, whichforms a concave mirror or other focal lens, or enveloping shield whenextended (as pictured). Also as with the sheets described in referenceto FIG. 21, and by the same encompassed features, sheet 2401 envelopesmore greatly, and becomes more concave, the more it is extended from astowage bay 2402 comprised in an actuator—in this instance, shieldingand focusing actuator 2403 (in which sheet 2401 may be furled, forexample, around a rotary motor to which it is attached). However, unlikethe embodiment set forth in FIG. 21, in this instance, sheet 2401 doesnot extend to cover a treatment target. Instead, sheet 2401 is sized andcurved to envelope a wireless communications broadcasting sub-device2405, when sheet 2401 is extended from bay 2402. As pictured,broadcasting device 2405 is comprised in communications device 2400.Communications device 2400 may be any portable communications devicethat may be held in close proximity to a human or other animal. Forexample, communications device 2400 may be a smartphone, personaldigital assistant, tablet, or other personal computer. Broadcastingdevice 2405 may be a WIFI or other antenna, other wirelesscommunications gear or any device emitting any form of radiation, orpotentially emitting any form of radiation. The broad side 2406 ofcommunications device 2400 that faces the viewer of the figure is theside of communications device 2400 that faces a user of the device,during normal usage. A screen or other GUI, along with a mountingbracket, may be overlaid onto side 2406, when the complete device isassembled.

Thus, when sheet 2401 is extended from bay 2402, enveloping the side ofbroadcasting device 2405 that faces a user of device 2400, it serves to:(1) focus ambient electromagnetic radiation received from the other side(facing into the page) of device 2400 onto broadcasting sub-device 2405;(2) reflect outbound electromagnetic radiation toward another device(s)with which device 2400 is communicating, and (3) shield the user fromelectromagnetic radiation from device 2400 and other sources. Dependingon the degree of extension, sheet 2401 will undertake more curved (whenfully extended) and more flat (when closer to fully retracted) shapes.Thus, a control system in communication with and controlling sheet 2401and actuator 2403—such as control system 2407—can select from a varietyof altered outbound and incoming angles of shielding and reflection, tobetter focus, receive and send electromagnetic signals from sub-device2405, and actuate actuator 2403 to create those angles of shielding andreflection, depending on conditions sensed by the control system.

For example, if ambient radiation sensed by device 2400 is of asufficient strength, reception of electromagnetic radiation from allsides of broadcasting sub-device 2405 may not be required to establishan adequate local network connection for device 2400 and, as such, thecontrol system may fully extend sheet 2401, to maximally protect a useron the user's side of device 2400. If, however, the signal laterdecreases in strength, or a wireless connection is otherwise lost,decreased in quality or moves, the control system can command actuator2403 to retract, completely or to varying degrees, to select angles ofreflection and focus that maximize reception of the electromagneticsignals.

Control system 2407 may be any suitable control system, such as thecontrol system set forth in reference to FIG. 19, above, and maycommunicate with and/or partially reside on remotely connected hardware.Sheet 2401 may comprise of or be lined with a fine mesh or other layerof copper or any other materials known in the art to shieldelectromagnetic radiation. Sheet 2401 may also be lined with a layer ofany electromagnetic reflective material known in the art. While suchdetails have been eliminated for clarity of visual presentation, itshould be understood that any part of communications device 2400 may beconnected to any other part of communications device 2400, for example,by wired or wireless interconnections. Similarly, any part ofcommunications device 2400 may be physically connected to any other partby any connecting devices known in the art (e.g., solder, screws, andintermediate brackets, such as bracket 2409, shown mounting controlsystem 2407 and broadcasting sub-device 2405, and connecting them toouter housing section 2411).

I claim:
 1. An electromagnetic radiation control system comprisinghardware configured to: cause multiple beams comprising radiation wavesin each beam of a planned, interrelated frequency and/or amplitude whensaid waves converge to converge on, superpose and create a plannedsuperposed waveform on a target material; and protect collateralmaterial, at a location other than said target material relative to asource of radiation, from coinciding with said superposed waveform bycausing radiation to interfere differently and/or to superpose to alower degree within said collateral material.
 2. The electromagneticradiation control system of claim 1, wherein at least some of saidradiation waves in each beam share the same or a constructively matchedpolarity within the target material.
 3. The electromagnetic radiationcontrol system of claim 2, wherein at least some of said radiation wavesin each beam constructively interfere with other waves.
 4. Theelectromagnetic radiation control system of claim 1, wherein a pluralityof said multiple beams comprise encoded source symbols, and said targetmaterial receives a decoded resultant signal.
 5. The electromagneticradiation control system of claim 4, wherein said encoded source symbolsare based on a combination algorithm to create data at said targetmaterial, while encrypting said data in collateral areas.
 6. Theelectromagnetic radiation control system of claim 5, wherein saidcombination algorithm employs randomly-selected combinations to yieldeach symbol in a resultant signal.
 7. The electromagnetic radiationcontrol system of claim 5, wherein said combination algorithm employsdifferent combinations to yield each instance of each symbol in aresultant signal.
 8. The electromagnetic radiation control system ofclaim 1, wherein at least some of said radiation waves in each beamoriginate from the same side of said target.
 9. A method for controllingelectromagnetic radiation-based or other wave phenomenon, comprising thefollowing steps: employing location information concerning a group ofmaterial to define the location of a target; aiming multiple beams ofradiation or paths or instances of wave phenomenon, or aiming a diffusebeam of radiation or wave phenomenon, at said target from the same sideof said target, which beam(s) of radiation or paths or instances wavephenomenon are in a planned, interrelated frequency and/or amplitudewhen said waves converge; causing said multiple beams of radiation orpaths or instances of wave phenomenon, or aiming a diffuse beam ofradiation or wave phenomenon, to converge on, superpose and create aplanned superposed waveform on said target; and protecting collateralmaterial, at a location other than said target relative to a source ofradiation, from coinciding with said superposed waveform by causingradiation to interfere differently and/or to superpose to a lower degreewithin said collateral material.
 10. The method for controllingelectromagnetic radiation-based or other wave phenomenon of claim 9,comprising the following additional step: causing at least some of saidradiation waves in each beam to share the same or a constructivelymatched polarity within the target.
 11. The method for controllingelectromagnetic radiation-based or other wave phenomenon of claim 10,comprising the following additional step: causing at least some of saidradiation waves in each beam to constructively interfere with otherwaves.
 12. The method for controlling electromagnetic radiation-based orother wave phenomenon of claim 9, comprising the following additionalsteps: causing a plurality of said multiple beams to comprise encodedsource symbols; and causing said target to receive a decoded resultantsignal.
 13. The method for controlling electromagnetic radiation-basedor other wave phenomenon of claim 12, comprising the followingadditional steps: basing said encoded source symbols on a combinationalgorithm to create data at said target; while encrypting said data incollateral areas.
 14. The method for controlling electromagneticradiation-based or other wave phenomenon of claim 13, comprising thefollowing additional step: employing randomly-selected combinations toyield each symbol in a resultant signal.
 15. The method for controllingelectromagnetic radiation-based or other wave phenomenon of claim 13,comprising the following additional step: employing differentcombinations to yield each instance of each symbol in a resultantsignal.
 16. A device for delivering electromagnetic radiation to aradiation target while protecting material collateral to said radiationtarget, comprising: a main body comprising a pocket for housing a shieldthat is also a lens; said shield which is also a lens; wherein saidshield which is also a lens is configured to be released and expandedout of said main body upon actuation by a user; and wherein said shieldwhich is also a lens gathers and concentrates electromagnetic radiationon a side facing said target while shielding said material collateral tosaid target.
 17. The device for delivering electromagnetic radiation toa radiation target while protecting material collateral to saidradiation target of claim 16, wherein said device is configured toassess whether a received radiation signal is of a particular, thresholdstrength and, if so, to retract said shield which is also a lens. 18.The device for delivering electromagnetic radiation to a radiationtarget while protecting material collateral to said radiation target ofclaim 17, wherein said shield which is also a lens is mounted in asmartphone and configured to extend over an antenna comprised in saidsmartphone.
 19. The device for delivering electromagnetic radiation to aradiation target while protecting material collateral to said radiationtarget of claim 18, wherein the target is the antenna and wherein thematerial collateral is part of a user's body.